










































































































































































N 
































































































'f v^ 






























To 
FRANK WARREN COBURN 

In appreciation 
of his generous and public spirited act in giving to 
the Lexington Historical Society the ownership and 
right of publication of this edition, are hereby extended 
in perpetuity the thanks of the Society as representing 
the citizens of Lexington. 

EDWIN B. WORTHEN 

President 

MABEL P. COOK 

Secretary 




Maj. John Pitcairn. 

By whose order the opening volley of the American Revolution 

was fired. 



The Battle of April 19, 1 775 

IN 

LEXINGTON, CONCORD, LINCOLN 

ARLINGTON, CAMBRIDGE 

SOMERVILLE AND CHARLESTOWN 

MASSACHUSETTS 

By 
FRANK WARREN COBURN 



SECOND EDITION REVISED AND WITH ADDITIONS 




LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U. S. A. 

PUBLISHED BY THE LEXINGTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY 

1922 



b£3| 



Copyright, 1922 
FRANK WARREN COBURN 



BOSTON 

WRIGHT & POTTER PRINTING COMPANY, STATE PRINTERS 

32 DERNE STREET 

1922 



FEB 'dij 1922 
g)CU659275 



' '. : 



<'YA-<0 J 



DEDICATION 

TO MY SON 
CHARLES L. COBURN 

A NATIVE OF LEXINGTON 



PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 



There have been many histories of the Battle of 
Lexington and of the Battle of Concord, some of 
them excellent to the extent of that part of the con- 
test to which they were devoted. From time to time 
gifted orators have gone to the one town or to the 
other, and eloquently portrayed the heroic deeds of 
men within that town on the opening day of the 
American Revolution. No fault should be found 
with any of those, designed as a healthy stimulus 
to local pride, and to foster sentiments of national 
patriotism. 

But the student in American local history needs 
a more extensive view of the operations of that day. 
He needs to be better informed as to the various 
scenes of carnage that were waged along all of those 
nearly twenty miles of highway. Men were slain in 
Lexington and in Concord; but there were many 
others slain in Lincoln, in Arlington, in Cambridge, 
and in Somerville. Nor should we forget the young- 
est martyr of the day, but fourteen years of age, who 
fell in Charlestown. 

For the purpose, then, of presenting to such as 
may be interested, I have assembled here the most 
comprehensive account that has ever been offered, 
and one that aims to be a history of the entire day. 



Vlll PREFACE. 

I have endeavored to make it not only complete 
and interesting, but just and reliable, recognizing 
fully the rights of my own ancestors to rebel, and 
also recognizing the rights of the mother country 
to prevent such rebellion — even by an appeal to 
arms. Since those days we have grown to be a 
mother country ourselves, and have had reason, on 
more than one occasion, to exercise that accepted 
right of parental control. 

This narrative is based upon official reports, sworn 
statements, diaries, letters, and narratives of partici- 
pants and witnesses; upon accounts of local histo- 
rians and national orators; and, in a few cases, upon 
tradition, if such seemed authentic and trustworthy. 

But I am sorry to say that in more than one in- 
stance, I have found even the sworn statements at 
variance with each other. I am satisfied that the 
authors did not intend to mislead in any way, but 
simply tried to tell to others what appeared to them. 
Their mental excitement naturally added a little of 
that vivid coloring noticeable in most war narra- 
tives of a personal nature. My work has been to 
harmonize and simplify these, and to extract simply 
the truth. 

In 1775 the greater part of the present town of 
Arlington was a part of Cambridge, and known as 
the Menotomy Precinct. Later it was incorporated 
as a separate town and called West Cambridge. 
Later still its name was changed to Arlington. 
Somerville, in that year, was a part of Charlestown. 
What remained of Charlestown eventually became 
a part of Boston, though still retaining its ancient 



PREFACE. IX 

name. In writing of the events that happened 
within the boundaries of each, I shall speak of them 
as of Arlington, of Somerville, and of Charlestown. 
I am glad to add that the bitterness and hatred, 
so much in evidence on that long-ago battle day, 
no longer exist between the children of the great 
British Nation. 

Frank Warren Coburn. 

Lexington, Mass., April 19, 1912. 



PREFACE TO THIS EDITION. 



The first edition of this book was published in 
191 2. In due time each copy found its new owner, 
and many subsequent calls could not be favorably 
answered. For that reason it has been thought 
best to prepare a new edition. The opportunity 
will allow of a few minor corrections and several 
important additions. 

Among the latter is a Muster Roll of the seventy- 
seven men of Captain John Parker's Lexington Com- 
pany, who responded to the first alarm in the early 
hours of that April morning, and formed in battle 
line on Lexington Common. Four hundred soldiers 
of the King were enough to win the struggle which 
followed, and Captain Parker withdrew his remain- 
ing force of seventy from the field, leaving seven 
slain, who were the first of the American Revolution. 

Naturally, Lexington is proud to own that sacred 
spot. It is my wish and hope, and the wish and hope 
of those who are associated with me in this work, 
that its pride may take a real and tangible form, in 
the shape of an enduring tablet naming those seven 
who voluntarily made that supreme sacrifice, and 
those seventy who stood with them equally as brave 
and willing. 

Pilgrims numbering thousands yearly come here 
to stand upon the exact spot where they stood, and 



Xll PREFACE. 

now must depart without even knowing the names 
of those whose memory they would delight to honor. 

For one hundred and forty-five years those names 
were never assembled in one Roll. It was my pleas- 
ure to gather them, and their first appearance in 
such was in The Boston Daily Globe of April 19, 1920. 
There were seventy-five in that first list. The acci- 
dental omission of one name called for the corrected 
list, which appeared in The Boston Sunday Globe of 
May 9 following. One more name was subsequently 
found, making the seventy-seven, and this Roll as 
completed was first printed in a little book of mine, 
"The Battle on Lexington Common," published in 
March, 1921. 

The very limited edition of that work is my excuse 
for reprinting the Roll here. 

Of equal importance are the names of those who, 
a little later in the day, were the first to march 
against the King's soldiers at Concord North Bridge. 
I cannot give them all, but have found those of two 
companies from Concord; one from Acton; two 
from Bedford; and one from Lincoln. 

During the day nearly 3,800 Americans, enrolled 
in seventy-four companies, the contributions of 
twenty-four towns, assembled somewhere along Bat- 
tle Road, and assisted in driving the British back to 
Boston. In a special edition of the first issue of this 
work I enumerated those of sixty-eight companies, 
numbering over 3,600 men. That work is now out 
of print, but may be found in some public libraries. 

There are quite a few new illustrations in this 
edition, most of them of real use to the reader, but 



PREFACE. Xlll 

some only relatively so, as those of the old homes of 
the men who were defending them on that day. 

My thanks are due and gratefully given to the 
Lexington Historical Society, the publisher of the 
present edition; to its President, Edwin B. Worthen; 
to members of its Publishing Committee, Miss 
Marian P. Kirkland and Mr. Hollis Webster; and 
to Mr. J. Henry Duffy, a member. Their advice 
and practical assistance have been of material value 
to me. Nor should I forget those readers of the first 
edition who were interested enough to forward to 
me their kindly criticisms and helpful suggestions. 
All were gratefully received and many woven into 
this narrative. 

Frank Warren Coburn. 

Lexington, Mass., Nov. 29, 1921. 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 

Authorities . xxiii 

In Parliament I 

The Provincial Congress 6 

British Forces in Boston 13 

The British Start for Lexington and Concord ... 20 

The Messengers of Alarm 21 

Flight of Hancock and Adams 30 

Alarms in Other Places 33 

Lieutenant Colonel Smith's Advance through Cambridge . 48 

Lieutenant Colonel Smith's Advance through Somerville 49 

Lieutenant Colonel Smith's Advance through Cambridge . 51 

Lieutenant Colonel Smith's Advance through Arlington . 52 

Lieutenant Colonel Smith's Advance into Lexington . . 58 

The Opening Battle on Lexington Common .... 59 

Lieutenant Colonel Smith's Advance through Lincoln . . 73 

Lieutenant Colonel Smith's Advance into Concord . . 73 

Battle at North Bridge in Concord 79 

Lieutenant Colonel Smith's Retreat through Concord . . 95 

Lieutenant Colonel Smith's Retreat through Lincoln . . 99 

Lieutenant Colonel Smith's Retreat to Lexington Village . 105 

Earl Percy Marches to reinforce Lieutenant Colonel Smith . 114 

Percy's Retreat through Arlington 130 

Percy's Retreat through Cambridge 145 

Percy's Retreat through Somerville 150 

Percy's Arrival in Charlestown 153 



XVI CONTENTS. 








PAGE 


Americans killed, wounded and missing .... 156 


British killed, wounded, prisoners and missing 






158 


Distances marched by the British soldiers 






159 


English Friends after the Battle 






160 


Appendix No. 1. — Lexington Men . 






165 


Appendix No. 2. — Concord Men . 






169 


Appendix No. 3. — Acton Men 






173 


Appendix No. 4. — Bedford Men . 






I7S 


Appendix No. 5. — Lincoln Men 






177 


Index 






181 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



PAGE 

Maj. John Pitcairn ..... frontispiece 

From a miniature in possession of the Lexington Historical 
Society. 

Gen. Thomas Gage ..... facing 6 

From a lithograph portrait in a History of East Boston, by 
William H. Sumner, 1858. Copied from an original portrait pre- 
sented by Admiral Sir Wm. Hall Gage, son of General Gage. 

Title-page of D'Bernicre's Narrative . . . facing 17 

Original in possession of the Lexington Historical Society. 

Foot of the Common," Boston .... facing 20 
Starting place of the British under Lieutenant-Colonel Smith. 

William Dawes ....... facing 22 

Loaned by the Lexington Historical Society. 

Paul Revere ....... facing 22 

Loaned by the Lexington Historical Society. 

Buckman Tavern, Lexington .... facing 26 
Loaned by the Lexington Historical Society. 

Jonathan Harrington House, Lexington . . facing 26 

Loaned by the Lexington Historical Society. 

Hancock-Clarke House, Lexington . . . facing 26 

Loaned by the Lexington Historical Society. 

Munroe Tavern, Lexington ..... facing 26 
Loaned by the Lexington Historical Society. 



XV111 ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PAGE 

The End of the Alarm Rides .... facing 28 

William Dawes and Paul Revere in Lincoln. 

The Parsonage in Lexington .... facing 35 

Hancock-Clarke House. From an original sketch by Miss F. M. 
Farnsworth, about 1875, owned by the Lexington Historical 
Society. 

Fireplace in the Buckman Tavern, Lexington . facing 38 

Second Street, East Cambridge .... facing 48 
Where the British forces, under Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, landed. 

Home of Lieut. Solomon Bowman in Arlington . facing 54 

Homes of Captain Locke and the Shoemaker, "Foot of the 
Rocks," in Arlington ..... facing 57 

William Diamond's Drum ..... facing 59 

Original in possession of the Lexington Historical Society which 
summoned the Lexington Minute Men to arms for the first battle 
of the American Revolution. 

Names of the Seventy-seven Men of Capt. John Parker's 

Company ... .... facing 60 

Old Belfry on Lexington Common . . . facing 62 

Loaned by the Lexington Historical Society. 

Bowlder marking Line of the Lexington Minute Men facing 63 
Loaned by the Lexington Historical Society. 

Sergt. William Munroe ..... facing 63 
Loaned by the Lexington Historical Society. 

Fifer Jonathan Harrington ..... facing 63 
Loaned by the Lexington Historical Society. 



ILLUSTRATIONS. XIX 

The Doolittle Pictures. 

PACK 

Plate I. The Battle of Lexington, April 19, 1775 . facing 65 

Plate II. A View of the Town of Concord . . facing 74 

Plate III. The Engagement at the North Bridge in Con- 
cord facing 84 

Plate IV. A View of the South Part of Lexington facing 123 

The Amos Doolittle Pictures of Lexington and Concord, cop- 
perplate engravings, size about 12 by 18 inches, and hand-colored, 
were originally published by James Lockwood in New Haven, Dec. 
I3t '775- The drawings were made by Mr. Earl, a portrait painter, 
and the engravings therefrom were by Amos Doolittle. Both were 
members of the Governor's Guard, and came on to Cambridge 
as volunteers under Benedict Arnold immediately after the battle 
of April 19; and soon after they commenced these early specimens 
of American art. The student of to-day prizes them, not for their 
artistic excellence, but "or their faithfulness in depicting the 
scenery, buildings, and troops engaged. 

In The Book Buyer for January, 1898, is an illustrated article on 
Early American Copperplate Engraving, by William Loring 
Andrews. I am indebted to him, and to the publishers, Charles 
Scribners' Sons, for permission to copy the Doolittle set for this 
work. 

Home of Marrett and Nathan Mun roe, opposite the Common 
in Lexington. Still standing .... facing 68 

Loaned by the Lexington Historical Society. 

Tidd House on North Hancock Street, Lexington . facing 68 
Loaned by the Lexington Historical Society. 

Captain John Parker's Deposition . . . facing 71 

Original in possession of the Lexington Historical Society. 

Wright Tavern, Concord. Still standing . . facing 76 

The Elisha Jones House, Concord. Still standing . facing 85 

Home of Col. James Barrett, Concord. Still standing 

facing 86 



XX ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PAGE 

Home of Sergt. John Hartwell, Lincoln. Still standing facing 102 

Home of Sergt. Samuel Hartwell, Lincoln. Still standing 

facing 104 

Foot of Fiske Hill, Lexington .... facing 107 

Where Lieutenant-Colonel Smith was wounded and where Maj. 
John Pitcairn lost his horse, pistols and other accoutrements. 

Dr. Fisk's Bill for Attending the Wounded British . facing III 
Original in possession of the Lexington Historical Society. 

Lexington Common in 1921 . . ... facing 113 

Hugh Earl Percy ...... facing 125 

From a contemporary copperplate engraving published by John 
Fielding. London, 1785. 

Gen. William Heath ...... facing 128 

From a portrait in Harper's Magazine, October, 1883, and 
copied for publication in this work by permission of Harper & 
Brothers. 

The Jason Russell House on Jason Street, Arlington. Still 
standing ....... facing 138 

The Watson House, Massachusetts Avenue, near Rindge 
Avenue, Cambridge. Demolished in 1921 . . facing 147 

Home of James Miller, Washington Street, near Franklin 
Street, Somerville. Still standing . . . facing 152 



MAPS. 



PACE 

Boston and Vicinity, showing Route of the British 

April 19, 1775 facing 1 

Compiled from Henry Pelham's map of June 2, 1777, by J. Henry 
Duffy. 

Lexington Roads ...... facing 58 

Compiled from the map of John G. Hales of 1830, upon which are 
indicated locations illustrating events of April 19, 1775. by J. 
Henry Duffy. 

Lexington Village and Vicinity ..... 61 

Redrawn from the original in the first edition of 1912, by J. 
Henry Duffy. 

Concord ....... facing 73 

Compiled from the map published by Josiah Adams in 1885 to 
illustrate the scene of the Concord fight, with additions by J. 
Henry Duffy. 

Battle Road through Concord and Lincoln . . . 101 

Redrawn from the original, in the first edition of 1912, by J. 
Henry Duffy. 

Boston and Vicinity in 1775-76 . . . facing 114 

Copied from part of the map to illustrate the Siege of Boston 
in Marshall's Life of Washington, and dated 1806. I have made 
slight additions to indicate Smith's and Percy's movements. 

Battle Road through Arlington and Cambridge . . . 131 

Redrawn from the original, in the first edition of 1912, by J. 
Henry Duffy. 



AUTHORITIES. 



Individuals, societies, and historical works of value to me in the preparation 
of this work. 



Adams, Josiah. Address at Acton, July 21, 1835. 

Adams, Josiah. Letter to Lemuel Shattuck in Vindication of the 
Claims of Capt. Isaac Davis. 

Allen. Joseph and Lucy Clark Allen, Memorial of, by their 
Children. 

Almanack. George's Cambridge, or the Essex Calendar for 1776. 

Almanack. Nathaniel Low, 1775. 

Almanack. North American, 1775. By Samuel Stearns. 

Almanack. North American, 1776. By Samuel Stearns. Con- 
taining Rev. Wm. Gordon's Account of the Battle. 

Austin, James T. Life of Elbridge Gerry. 

Bacon, Edwin M. Historical Pilgrimages in New England. 

Bancroft, George. History of the United States. 

Barber, John Warner. Historical Collections of Massachusetts. 

Barber, John W. History and Antiquities of New Haven. 

Barrett, Capt. Amos. Concord and Lexington Battle, in Journal 
and Letters of Rev. Henry True. 

Barry, William. History of Framingham. 

Bartlett, George B. Concord Guide Book. 

Bartlett, S. R. Concord Fight. 

Bolton, Charles Knowles. Brookline, the History of a Favored 
Town. 

Bolton, Charles Knowles. Letters of Hugh Earl Percy. 

Bond, Henry, M.D. Genealogies of the Families of Watertown. 

Booth, E. C. Article in Somerville Journal April, 1875. 

Boston, Celebration of the Centennial Anniversary of the Evacu- 
ation of, by the British Army. 

Boutwell, George S. Oration at Acton Oct. 29, 1851. 



XXIV AUTHORITIES. 

British Officer in Boston in 1775, in Atlantic Monthly, April, 1877. 

Brooks, Charles, and James M. Usher. History of Medford. 

Brown, Abram English. Beneath Old Roof Trees. 

Brown, Abram English. History of Bedford. 

Brown, Charles, formerly of East Lexington. 

Cambridge of 1776. Edited for the Ladies' Centennial Com- 
mittee by A. G. 

Clarke, Jonas. Pastor of the Church in Lexington. Opening of 
the War of the Revolution. Appended to a Sermon Preached 
by Him April 19, 1776. 

Cleaveland, Colonel, of the Artillery. Historical Record of the 
52d Regiment. 

Concord Celebration of the Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary 
of the Incorporation, Sept. 12, 1885. 

Concord Fight, Souvenir of the 120th Anniversary of. 

Converse, Parker Lindall. Legends of Woburn. 

Curtis, George William. Oration on the One Hundredth Anni- 
versary of the Fight at Concord. 

Cutter, Ben., and William R. History of Arlington. 

Dana, Richard H. Oration on the One Hundredth Anniversary 
of the Battle of Lexington. 

Dawson, Henry B. Battles of the United States. 

De Bernicre's Report of the Battle. 

Depositions of Eyewitnesses and Participants. 

Drake, Francis S. The Town of Roxbury. 

Drake, Samuel Adams. Historic Fields and Mansions of Middle- 
sex. 

Drake, Samuel Adams. History of Middlesex County. 

Drake, Samuel Adams. Old Landmarks and Historical Person- 
ages of Boston. 

Emerson, Ralph Waldo. Historical Discourse, Concord, Sept. 12, 
1835. Containing Diary of Rev. William Emerson (eye- 
witness), April 19, 1775. 

Everett, Edward. Oration at Concord April 19, 1825. 

Everett, Edward. Address at Lexington April 19 (20), 1835. 

Everett, Edward. Mount Vernon Papers. 

Farmer, John. Historical Memoir of Billerica. 

Frothingham, Richard. History of the Siege of Boston. 



AUTHORITIES. XXV 

Frothingham, Richard. Rise of the Republic of the United States. 

Gage, Gen. Thomas. Report of the Battle. 

Gettemy, Charles Ferris. True Story of Paul Revere's Ride, in 

the New England Magazine, April, 1902. 
Gordon, William, D.D. History of the United States. 
Goss, Elbridge Henry. Life of Col. Paul Revere. 
Graham, James. History of the United States. 
Great Britain, War Office of, for General Gage's report. 
Green, Samuel Abbott. Groton during the Revolution. 
Hale, Edward E., in Winsor's Memorial History of Boston. 
Hamlin, Rev. Cyrus. My Grandfather, Col. Francis Faulkner. 
Hanson, J. W. History of Danvers. 
Harper's Popular Cyclopaedia of United States History. 
Haven, Samuel F. Historical Address, Dedham, Sept. 21, 1836. 
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. Mosses from an Old Manse. 
Hazen, Rev. Henry A. History of Billerica. 
Heath, Major General, Memoirs of. Written by himself. 
Historical Records of the British Army. The 4th or King's Own 

Regiment of Foot. 
Holland, Henry W. William Dawes and his Ride with Paul 

Revere. 
Houghton, H. M. Plans locating Graves of British Soldiers. 
Hudson, Alfred Sereno. History of Sudbury. 
Hudson, Charles. History of Lexington, first and revised editions. 
Hudson, Charles. History of Marlborough. 
Hudson, Frederic. Concord Fight, in Harper's New Monthly 

Magazine, May, 1875. 
Hunnewell, James F. A Century of Town Life. A History of 

Charlestown. 
Hurd, D. Hamilton. History of Essex County. 
Hurd, D. Hamilton. History of Middlesex County. 
Jewett, C. F., & Co. History of Worcester County. 
King, Daniel P. Eulogy at the Funeral of Gen. Gideon Foster. 
Lannon, John. Lexington. 
Lewis, Alonzo. History of Lynn. 
Lexington, Handbook of its Points of Interest, 1 891. 
Lexington, Historical Monuments and Tablets. 
Lexington Historical Society, Alonzo E. Locke, president, and 

various officers and attendants. 



XXVI AUTHORITIES. 

Lexington Historical Society, Proceedings of, Vols. I, II, III, IV. 

Contributions by Edward P. Bliss; Francis H. Brown, M.D.; 

G. W. Brown; Albert W. Bryant; Elizabeth Clarke; Eliza- 
beth W. Harrington; Herbert G. Locke; James P. Munroe; 

Elizabeth W. Parker; G. W. Sampson; A. Bradford Smith; 

Geo. 0. Smith; and Rev. Carlton A. Staples. 
Lexington, History of the Fight at. From the best authorities. 
Lexington, Proceedings at the Centennial Celebration of the Battle 

of. 
Lincoln, William. History of Worcester. 
Lincoln, Mass. Celebration of the 150th Anniversary of its 

Incorporation April 23, 1904. 
Local Loiterings and Visits in the Vicinity of Boston. By a 

Looker-on. 
Lossing, Benson J. History of the United States. 
McGlenen, Edward W., Boston. 
McKenzie, Rev. Alexander. Address at Dedication of Monument 

over Cambridge killed. 
Mansfield, Rev. Isaac, chaplain of General Thomas's Regiment. 

Thanksgiving Sermon in Camp at Roxbury, Nov. 23, 1775. 
Marshall, John. Life of George Washington. 
Massachusetts Archives, at State House, Boston. 
Massachusetts Historical Society Collections, Vols. II, IV, V, 

XVIII, and Vol. IV, Second Series. 
Massachusetts Historical Society Proceedings, May, 1876. 
Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the Revolutionary War. 
Military Journals of Two Private Soldiers, 1758, 1775. Lemuel 

Lyons, Samuel Haws. 
Muzzey, A. B. History of the Battle of Lexington. 
Muzzey, A. B. Reminiscences and Memorials of the Men of the 

Revolution. 
Narrative of the Excursion and Ravages of the King's Troops. 

Worcester, printed by Isaiah Thomas, by order of the Pro- 
vincial Congress. 
New England Historic Genealogical Society. 
Osgood, Charles S., and H. M. Batchelder. Historical Sketch 

of Salem. 
Paige, Lucius R. History of Cambridge. 
Parker, Charles S. Town of Arlington, Past and Present. 



AUTHORITIES. XXVII 

Parliamentary History of England. Published under the super- 
intendence of T. C. Hansard, Vol. XVIII. 
Percy, Acting Brigadier General. His Report of the Battle. 
Phinney, Elias. History of the Battle of Lexington. 
Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, Journals of Each. 
Rantoul, Robert, Jr. Oration at Concord on the Seventy-fifth 

Anniversary of the Events of April 19, 1775. 
Revere, Paul. His Account of the Ride to Lexington. Reprinted 

in the Life of Revere by Goss. 
Reynolds, Rev. Grindall. Concord Fight. 
Ripley, Rev. Ezra. History of the Fight at Concord. 
Russell, Edward J., Dorchester. 

Samuels, E. A., and H. H. Kimball. Somerville, Past and Present. 
Sawtelle, Ithamar B. History of Townsend. 
Scull, G. D. Memoir and Letters of Capt. W. Glanville Evelyn of 

the 4th Regiment (King's Own). 
Sewall, Samuel. History of Woburn. 
Shattuck, Lemuel. History of Concord, Bedford, Acton, Lincoln 

and Carlisle. 
Sidney, Margaret. Old Concord. Her Highways and Byways. 
Simonds, Eli. Article containing his Statement about the Battle 

of Lexington, Boston Globe, July 17, 1895. 
Smith, Samuel A. West Cambridge on the Nineteenth of April, 

1775. An address. 
Smith, S. F., D.D. History of Newton. 
Somerville, Handbook of the Historic Festival, 1898. 
Staples, Rev. Carlton A. 
Stearns, Jonathan F., D.D. Historical Discourse, Bedford Sesqui- 

Centennial, Aug. 27, 1879. 
Stedman, C. History of the Origin, Progress and Termination 

of the American War. 
Stephens, Alexander. Memoirs of John Home Tooke. 
Stone, Edwin M. History of Beverly. 
Sumner, William H. History of East Boston. 
Swan, Charles W. Manuscript of Levi Harrington. Account 

of the Battle, given by him to his son, Bowen, March, 1846. 

(Eyewitness on Lexington Common, then about fifteen years 

of age.) 
Tenney, Wallace Fay. 



XXV1U AUTHORITIES. 

Thornton, John Wingate. Pulpit of the American Revolution. 

Tolman, George. Concord Minute Man. 

United States Geological Survey, Maps of. 

Watson, John Lee. Paul Revere's Signal. The True Story of 

the Signal Lanterns. 
Webber, C. H., and W. S. Nevins. Old Naumkeag. Historical 

Sketch of Salem. 
Wellington, Caroline, Charles A., Cornelius and Eliza. 
Wheildon, W. W. Chapter in the History of the Concord Fight. 

Boston Sunday Herald, April 19, 1885. 
Winsor, Justin. Memorial History of Boston. 
Worthington, Erastus. History of Dedham. 
Wyman, Thomas B. Genealogies and Estates of Charlestown. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775 




Boston and Vicinity in 1775-76. 

1, Lieutenant Colonel Smith's starting place. 

2, His landing place in Cambridge. 

3> 3. 3» Earl Percy's route from Boston to Cambridge. 
(Top of map is north.) 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 1 9, 1 775. 



In Parliament. 

The Treaty of Peace signed at Paris, Feb. io, 
1763, terminated the prolonged struggle between 
England and France for supremacy in the New 
World. For seven long years it had lasted, and its 
cost had been treasure and blood. Justly proud 
were the British Colonies of the martial success of 
their mother country, a goodly part of which they, 
themselves, had valorously won. 

During the war, and at its close, England had 
been generous in remitting to the Colonial Treas- 
uries large sums in partial liquidation of the war 
expenses advanced by them, but subsequently it 
was esteemed wise, by a majority of her statesmen, 
to gradually replace such sums in the royal coffers 
by a system of colonial taxation very similar to 
modern methods of raising war revenues. In the 
abstract this fact was not particularly disagreeable 
to the colonists, for the necessity was admitted, but 
the arbitrary method of levying those taxes was 
bitterly contested. 

England's Parliament claimed the right to tax the 
distant Colonies even as it taxed the neighboring 
Boroughs, and as a commencement of its financial 



2 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775. 

plan enacted a Stamp Act, so called, to take effect 
Nov. 1, 1765, similar in intent and working to the 
modern revenue stamp of our government. These 
stamps were to be purchased of the Crown's officers 
and affixed to certain articles of merchandise, and in 
denominations according to a schedule of taxable 
value. 

The opposition to this act was immediate, con- 
tinuous, and bitter in the extreme, and the result 
was that it was repealed March 18, 1766. 

The next move on the part of the Mother Country- 
was the passage of a Military Act which provided 
for the partial subsistence of armed troops on the 
Colonies. Violent opposition to this was also im- 
mediate and general, but without avail. In Boston 
one result was a conflict between the troops and the 
inhabitants on March 5, 1770, and which is now 
referred to as the Boston Massacre. 

In June, 1767, another act taxing tea and other 
commodities was passed, which was repealed April 
12, 1770, on all articles except the tea. Large con- 
signments were sent to America. Ships thus laden 
that arrived in New York were sent back with their 
full cargoes. At Charlestown the tea was landed 
but remained unsold. At Boston a party disguised 
as Indians threw it from the ship into the sea. 1 Par- 
liament in consequence passed the Boston Port Bill 
March 7, 1774, closing Boston as a commercial port, 
and removing the Custom House to Salem in another 

1 In a little cemetery at West Fairlee, Vt., is a memorial stone which reads 
"Wm. Cox, died July 27, 1838, Aged 88. He helped steep the tea in the Atlantic." 
His name seems to have been overlooked by historians, so I mention it here. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19,1775. 3 

harbor a dozen miles or more northward up the 
coast. 

This act went into effect June I, 1774, and was 
immediately felt by all classes, for all commerce 
ceased. Boston merchants became poor, and Boston 
poor became beggars. The hand of relief, however, 
was extended, even from beyond the sea. The city 
of London in its corporate capacity subscribed 
£30,000. 1 In America the assistance was liberal and 
speedy. George Washington headed a subscription 
paper with £50. 2 

These severe measures of Parliament, with their 
natural effect of ruin and starvation among the 
people of America, served to stimulate a feeling of 
insubordination and of hatred of the Mother Coun- 
try, from which crystallized the First Continental 
Congress, which assembled at Philadelphia Sept. 5, 
1774, soon to be followed by the First Provincial 
Congress of Massachusetts, which met at Salem on 
October 7 of the same year. 

On the question of colonial government Great 
Britain and her American Colonies were not divided 
by the Atlantic Ocean, for on the American side the 
Crown had its ardent supporters, while on the other 
side friends of the American cause were almost as 
numerous as were the oppressors. We have seen 
how the great city of London contributed liberally 
to the Bostonians, shut off from the world by the 
Port Bill, and on the floor of Parliament many 
gifted orators espoused the American cause. 

1 Lossing's History of the United States, page 226. 

2 Frothingham'8 Rise of the Republic, page 326. 



4 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

With prophetic eloquence the Lord Mayor, Mr. 
Wilkes, exclaimed: — 

This I know, a successful resistance is a revolution, not a 
rebellion. . . . Who can tell, sir, whether in consequence of this 
day's violent and mad Address to his Majesty, the scabbard may 
not be thrown away by them as well as by us? . . . But I hope 
the just vengeance of the people will overtake the authors of these 
pernicious councils, and the loss of the first province of the empire 
be speedily followed by the loss of the heads of those ministers 
who advised these wicked and fatal measures. 1 

Lord Chatham, in his motion to withdraw the 
troops from Boston, said: — 

As an American I would recognize to England her supreme 
right of regulating commerce and navigation: as an Englishman 
by birth and principle I recognize to the Americans their supreme 
unalienable right in their property; a right in which they are 
justified in the defence of to the last extremity. 2 

The Corporation of the City of London passed 
a vote of thanks to Chatham, and to those who 
supported him for having offered to the House 
of Lords a plan to conciliate the differences with 
America. 3 

When Lord North's unfriendly proposition for 
conciliating America was introduced, it naturally 
found an advocate in the loyal and courtly General 
Burgoyne, — courtly but courageous; loyal ever to 
his King but not blind to the merits of the claims 
of the Colonists. While modestly pledging his 

1 Hansard's Parliamentary History, Vol. XVIII, cols. 238, 240. 
1 Hansard's Parliamentary History, Vol. XVIII, col. 154. 
• Hansard's Parliamentary History, Vol. XVIII, col. 215. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 5 

loyalty to the Crown he could not refrain from 
adding: — 

There is a charm in the very wanderings and dreams of liberty 
that disarms an Englishman's anger. 1 

In the debate on the bill for restraining the trade 
and commerce of the English Colonies, Lord Camden 
asked: — 

What are the 10,000 men you have just voted out to Boston? 
Merely to save General Gage from the disgrace and destruction of 
being sacked in his entrenchments. It is obvious, my Lords, that 
you cannot furnish armies or treasure, competent to the mighty 
purpose of subduing America. ... It is impossible that this 
petty island can continue in dependence that mighty continent. 2 

Continuing, he drew a picture of American union 
and American courage that in the end would prevail. 
The Earl of Sandwich replied: — 

Suppose the colonists do abound in men, what does that signify? 
They are raw, undisciplined, cowardly men. I wish instead of 
40 or 50,000 of these brave fellows, they would produce in the 
field at least 200,000, the more the better, the easier would be 
the conquest; if they did not run away, they would starve them- 
selves into compliance with our measures. 3 

And the bill was passed. 

One has but to read the stirring debates of that 
memorable year in Parliament — over the petitions 
for redress of grievances from America; over the peti- 
tions for reconciliation from the merchants of Bristol 

1 Hansard's Parliamentary History, Vol. XVIII, col. 355. 

s Hansard's Parliamentary History, Vol. XVIII, cols. 442, 443. 

• Hansard's Parliamentary History, Vol. XVIII, col. 446. 



6 THE BATTLE OF APRIL ICj, 1775- 

and of London; over the resolutions offered by its 
own members; and over the addresses to them by 
their King — to realize that the great question of 
American rights had almost as many, and surely as 
eloquent, advocates there as here. 

The Provincial Congress. 

As we have seen, the First Continental Congress 
assembled at Philadelphia Sept. 5, 1774. They met 
in Carpenter's Hall. The First Provincial Congress 
of Massachusetts met at Salem on October 7, follow- 
ing. John Hancock was chosen president. In its 
first set of resolutions it announced "the necessity 
of its most vigorous and immediate exertions for 
preserving the freedom and constitution" of the 
Province. 

The Royal Governor, Gen. Thomas Gage, had 
issued his writs the first day of September, calling 
upon the inhabitants to return representatives to 
the Great and General Court to be convened at 
Salem on the 5th of October. In the meantime, 
becoming alarmed at the tumults and disorders, the 
extraordinary resolves passed by some of the coun- 
ties, the instructions given by Boston and some other 
towns to their representatives, and the general un- 
happy condition of the Province, he determined that 
the time was not auspicious for such a gathering, 
and accordingly issued a proclamation counter- 
manding the call. However, ninety representatives 
met on that day, waited loyally for the Governor, 
and when he failed to appear adjourned to the next 
day, October 6, and met as a convention, choosing 




Gen. Thomas Gage 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 7 

John Hancock chairman. Not much in the way of 
business was accomplished on that day, and they 
adjourned again, until the next, October 7, when they 
met and declared themselves to be a Provincial 
Congress, and chose John Hancock permanent 
chairman. 

Thus the First Provincial Congress was, strictly 
speaking, a self-constituted body, with not even the 
sanction of a popular vote. Yet they felt secure in 
a popular support. They could not pass laws, but 
they could resolve, advise, and recommend, and 
such acts were generally heeded by a majority of 
their fellow citizens. 1 

The military organization of the Province was 
equally without effective power, as they recognized 
no real commanding officer of higher rank than 
colonel. It is true that the Congress had nomi- 
nated three general officers, but their real powers 
to command were feeble. The minute men and 
militia were enrolled by thousands, but they were 
poorly equipped, without uniforms, and without 
discipline. They marched to Battle Road in com- 
pany formation, but upon arrival, or very soon after, 
manoeuvred and fought as individuals simply. 

The Second Provincial Congress, more nearly an 
elective body than the first, realized their own lack 
of authority over the people and particularly over 
the military branch of their constituents. They 

1 See their "advice" to constables and to tax collectors Oct. 14, 1774, not to pay 
moneys collected by them to the royal treasurer of the Province, Hon. Harrison 
Gray (Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, page 19), and their 
"recommendation" to towns, October 28, to direct their constables and tax col- 
lectors to pay such moneys to their appointee as Receiver General, Henry Gardner 
(Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, page 38). 



8 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

wrote to the Continental Congress at Philadelphia, 
under date of May 16, 1775, stating that they were 
compelled to raise an army; of their triumph at 
having one consisting of their own countrymen; but 
they admitted a lack of civil power to provide for 
and control it. And they asked for advice from the 
greater Congress, which represented all the Colonies, 
as to the taking up and exercising of the necessary 
powers of a civil government. 1 

Let us, then, as we go forward with this narrative, 
bear these facts in mind, that we may not, in this 
very first day of a new nation's struggle for liberty, 
expect too much from those who had the wisdom, 
the strength, the courage and the skill, but greatly 
lacked the first elements of a civil government or a 
military force, — discipline and efficiency. 

The First Provincial Congress next met in Con- 
cord Oct. 11, 1774. Hancock was chosen president, 
an office higher than permanent chairman. Several 
following days were devoted to public business. 
From there they addressed a communication to 
General Gage, wherein they expressed the appre- 
hensions excited in their minds by the rigorous 
execution of the Port Bill; by the alteration of the 
Charter; by the administration of justice in the 
Colony; by the number of troops in the capital 
(Boston); and particularly by the formidable and 
hostile preparations on Boston Neck. And they 
asked, rather pointedly, "whether an inattentive 
and unconcerned acquiescence in such alarming, 
and menacing measures would not evidence a state 

1 Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, page 230. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 9 

of insanity?" They entreated him to reduce the 
fortress at the entrance to Boston, and concluded 
by assuring His Excellency that they had not the 
least intention of doing any harm to His Majesty's 
troops. 1 

Four days later, October 17, sitting at Cambridge, 
they received his reply. It was altogether lacking 
in satisfaction. He answered them, as to the forti- 
fication on Boston Neck, that "unless annoyed" it 
would "annoy nobody." And the rest of his com- 
munication was equally unassuring. 

On October 19 a committee was appointed to 
inquire into the then present state and operations 
of the British Army, 2 and on October 20 another 
committee, to report on what was necessary to be 
done for the safety and defence of the Province. 3 

Matters were crystallizing very fast, for on Oc- 
tober 24 a committee was appointed to consider and 
report on the most proper time for the Province to 
provide a stock of powder, ordnance, and ordnance 
stores. That same afternoon one of the members, 
Mr. Bliss, was ordered to wait upon the committee 
to ascertain their reply. They quickly responded 
that their opinion was that "now" was the proper 
time to procure such a stock. 4 Another committee 
was at once appointed to take into consideration 
and determine the quantity and expense thereof. 4 

On the afternoon of the following day, October 
25, the schedule was presented to the Congress, and 

1 Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, page 18. 

* Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, page 22. 

* Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, page 23. 

* Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, page 29. 



IO THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

one of its items called for 1,000 barrels of powder, 
and the proposed expense was £10,737. Items were 
added by the Congress to increase the amount to 
£20,837. It was likewise ordered "that all the 
matters which shall come under consideration before 
this Congress be kept secret." 1 

On October 26 it was resolved that a Committee 
of Safety should be appointed, whose business it 
should be "most carefully and diligently to inspect 
and observe all and every such person and persons 
as shall at any time, attempt or enterprise the 
destruction, invasion, detriment or annoyance of 
this province." And they should have the power 
to alarm, muster and cause to be assembled with 
the utmost expedition, and completely armed for 
the defence, such of the militia as they shall deem 
necessary for its defence. 2 And it was also resolved 
that as the security of the lives, liberties, and prop- 
erties of these inhabitants depended on their skill 
in the military art and in their being properly and 
effectively armed, it was therefore recommended 
that they immediately provide themselves with 
those qualifications. 3 

On October 27 Congress appointed a Committee 
of Safety, consisting of nine members, three from 
Boston and six from the country, John Hancock, 
chairman, and also a Commissary, or Committee 
of Supplies, consisting of five members. 4 At a sub- 
sequent meeting on the same day, Jedidiah Preble 

1 Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, page 30. 

2 Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, page 32. 

» Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, page 34. 
• Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, page 35. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- II 

was elected to be chief in command, and Artemas 
Ward, second. 1 

On October 29 a vote was passed recommending 
that the inhabitants perfect themselves in the mili- 
tary art. 2 On that same day a committee was 
appointed to wait upon His Excellency the Governor 
to express their surprise at his active warlike prepara- 
tions, and to announce that their constituents would 
not expect them to be guided by his advice. 3 But 
before the conclusion of this session another resolu- 
tion was passed to the effect that the lives and 
liberties of the inhabitants depended upon their 
knowledge and skill in the military art. 4 

The First Provincial Congress was dissolved Dec. 
10, 1774, every session of its deliberations having 
been devoted to the civil rights and liberties of the 
people over which it had presided. 

The Second Provincial Congress was convened in 
Concord Feb. I, 1775. One of its earliest acts, 
February 9, was to appoint Hon. Jedidiah Preble, 
Hon. Artemas Ward, Col. Seth Pomeroy, Col. John 
Thomas, and Col. William Heath general officers. 6 
The same day, in an address to the inhabitants of 
the Massachusetts Bay, they said, "Though we 
deprecate a rupture with the Mother State, yet we 
must urge you to every preparation for your neces- 
sary defence." 6 

Nor were the Indians neglected in these strong 

1 Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, page 35 

* Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, page 41 
8 Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, page 45 
4 Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, page 48 
6 Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, page 90 

• Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, page 92 



12 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

appeals to the patriotism of the inhabitants of the 
Massachusetts Bay, for under date of April 1, 1775, 
an address was issued to Johoiakin Mothksin and 
the rest of the Indians of Stockbridge, expressing 
great pleasure that they were "willing to take up 
the hatchet," and announcing that Colonel Paterson 
and Captain Goodridge should present each that 
had enlisted a blanket and a ribbon. A committee 
was also appointed to address the chief of the 
Mohawks. 1 

The Committee of Safety met for the first time 
at the house of Captain Stedman, in Cambridge, 
Wednesday, Nov. 2, 1774, and organized, as we 
have stated, with John Hancock, chairman. John 
Pigeon was chosen clerk. Their first vote after 
organization was a recommendation to the Com- 
mittee of Supplies to procure as soon as may be, 335 
barrels of pork, 700 barrels of flour, 20 tierces of rice, 
300 bushels of peas, and that these be distributed in 
Worcester and Concord. On November 8, follow- 
ing, in joint meeting with the Committee on Sup- 
plies, the latter was advised to procure all- of the 
arms and ammunition possible from the neighboring 
Provinces, and that they might with safety engage 
to pay for the same on arrival. 

At subsequent meetings various military stores 
were liberally provided. With a unanimous vote 
on Feb. 21, 1775, by both committees in joint ses- 
sion, it was decided that the Committee of Supplies 
should purchase all kinds of military stores sufficient 
for an army of 15,000 men. 2 It did not then seem 

1 Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, pages 115, 116. 

2 Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, pages 505, 509. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 13 

to them as if a peaceful solution of the estrangement 
were longer possible. 

The last meeting of the Provincial Congress, 
before the battle, was held in Concord April 15, and 
when it adjourned it was until May 10. But, con- 
sidering "the great uncertainty of the present times," 
it was provided, however, that a call might issue 
for an earlier assembling. Only two days elapsed 
before apprehensions of immediate danger arose, 
which grew so intense that Richard Devens, on 
the 1 8th, issued a summons for immediate assem- 
bling at Concord. Although it was circulated 
with the greatest despatch, many of the members 
could not have learned of it before the marching 
of the British troops on that same night from 
Boston Common. 

The meeting was finally assembled on April 22, 
and quickly adjourned to Watertown, evidently to 
be in closer touch with the thrilling events that had 
so dramatically opened. 1 

British Forces in Boston. 

Gen. Thomas Gage, commander of the British 
forces in America, and successor of Thomas Hutchin- 
son as Governor of the Massachusetts Bay, landed in 
Boston May 13, 1774. Inspired by a hope that his 
administration might soften the feeling of resentment 
against the Mother Country by annulling some of 
its causes, his reception on the 17th was dignified 
and cordial. He was greeted with cheers by the 
multitude, the firing of salutes in his honor, and a 

1 Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, pages 146, 147. 



14 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

lavish banquet in Faneuil Flail. 1 A few weeks be- 
fore he had assured his King that the Americans 
"will be lions while we are lambs; but if we take 
the resolute part they will prove very weak." 2 

His military force then in Boston was less than 
4,000 men, 3 and consisted of the 4th, or King's Own; 
5th; 10th; 17th; three companies of the 18th; 22d; 
23d; 38th; 43d; 44th; 47th; 52d; 59th; 63d; 64th; 
six or eight companies of artillery; and six or eight 
companies of marines, numbering 460, under Major 
Pitcairn. 4 

Major General Heath is the authority for the 
statement that the Provincial Congress appointed 
a committee to make inquiry into the state of oper- 
ation of the British Army in Boston, and on the 20th 
of March they reported that there were about 2,850 
men distributed as follows: Boston Common, about 
1,700; Fort Hill, 400; Boston Neck, 340; in bar- 
racks at the Castle, about 330; King Street, 80; 
that they were erecting works at Boston Neck on 
both sides of the way, well constructed and well 

1 Frothingham'8 Rise of the Republic of the United States, page 330. 

8 Frothingham's Rise of the Republic of the United States, page 3 18. 

8 Hale in Memorial History of Boston, Vol. Ill, page 79. 

4 This list I make up from a document from among the Swett papers, and an 
article in the Atlantic Monthly, April, 1877, entitled A British Officer in Boston 
in 1775. The Swett manuscript is interesting as giving the distinctive uniforms, 
as follows: — 

"Fourth or King's Own, red faced with white; 5th, Lord Percy, red faced with 
blue; 10th, red faced with green; 17th, Light Dragoons, red faced with yellow; 
22d, Gen. Gage, red faced with white; 23d, Gen. Howe, red faced with blue; 38th, 
Gen. Piget, red faced with yellow; 43rd, red faced with light buff; 44th, red 
faced with yellow; 52d, red faced with white; 59th, called the Pompadours, red 
faced with crimson; 63d, red faced with yellow; 64th, red faced with black; 
artillery, blue faced with red; Marines, red faced with white." 

Some of these were encamped on the Common. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 15 

executed. The works were in forwardness and 
mounted with ten brass and two iron cannon. The 
old fortification at the entrance of the town was 
replaced and rendered much stronger by the addi- 
tion of timber and earth to the parapet, and ten 
pieces of iron cannon were mounted on the old 
platform. A block house had been brought from 
Governor's Island and was being erected on the 
south side of the Neck. 1 

But a short time was required to show that in 
every political question General Gage was loyal to 
his King. Accordingly throughout the Province, 
the press, the pulpit, the expression of opinion in 
public meetings, while professing loyalty to the 
King personally, were extremely bitter against his 
representative in command. 

Conventions were held in the various counties of 
the Province, the earliest one being in Berkshire 
County July 6, 1774, followed by the one in Worces- 
ter County August 9. Resolutions were passed at 
each, professing loyalty to the King, but remon- 
strating strongly against Parliament. It was left for 
the Middlesex County Convention, August 30, to 
pass resolutions that rang throughout the Province. 
While also professing loyalty to the King their final 
sentence was — 

No danger shall affright, no difficulties intimidate us; and if 
in support of our rights we are called to encounter even death, 
we are yet undaunted, sensible that he can never die too soon, 
who lays down his life in support of the laws and liberty of his 
country. 

1 Heath's Memoirs, written by himself. Boston, 1798. Page 11. 



l6 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

These resolutions were passed by a vote of 146 
yeas against 4 nays. 1 

Although the town of Boston itself was the head- 
quarters of General Gage, and his soldiers were 
parading in its streets, and encamping on its Com- 
mon, the patriots had by no means deserted it. 
There were several secret societies who made it their 
business to watch for and report hostile movements 
and plans. These were the "North End Caucus," 
the "South End Caucus," the "Middle District 
Caucus," and the "Long Room Club," all of which 
owed allegiance to the "Sons of Liberty," a body 
which acted in the capacity of a higher council, and 
which kept itself in close communication with sim- 
ilar organizations outside of this Province. Mem- 
bers of these various bodies paraded the streets 
nightly, that any sudden or unusual movement of 
the army might be at once reported. Paul Revere 
belonged to one or more of these, and was active in 
patriotic work. 

Nor was General Gage idle in acquiring informa- 
tion about the Provincial Army being assembled 
and the topographical features of the country 
around Boston. His troops were especially trained 
by marches over the highways in the vicinity, 2 and 
his spies brought him maps and reports from the 
scenes of his possible future operations. The two 

1 Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, page 1 14. 

J Rev. Mr. Gordon of Roxbury wrote a very interesting account of the com- 
mencement of hostilities, which was published in the North American Almanack 
for 1776. He speaks of one of their practice marches, on March 30, when about 
1,100 men marched to Jamaica Plain, by way of Dorchester, and back to Boston, 
about five miles. On this particular march the soldiers amused themselves by 
pushing over stone walls. 



I 



J / 7 * S*- 

Ginbkai. GAG E's 

INSTRUCTIONS 

Of 2 id Fehruiry ijjy, 

To Captain Brtwn and Enflgn "D'Berriicr?, (orf the 
army uadcr his' command) whom he ordered to take 
a flcetch of tlje roads, pafles, heights, Ice. from Bofton 
to ff /r srcejhr t and to make other obfervations : 

With a curious 

NARRATIVE 

OCCURRENCES during 
Wrote by the 'Enftgn* 

Jther mh an A C C O U N T of their doings,, 
in confequence of further Orders aad Inflruflions 
from General Gage, of the 20th March fol 'owing,, 
*o proceed ta Cer.c9rd s xc reconnoitre and Bod o»t the 
ilate of the provincial magazines , wha> 
cannen, fcc, they have, sni ia v •: an. 

A L 5 ?j 

An A C C © U N T of the Tranfacllo; 
Brit'tjb troops, from the time they marched cu 
Bo/fon s on the evening of the i£th, 'til! their anfujei 
retreat back,, oo the ever memorebh JNineteentl 
•dfiril 1775 ; and a Return of their killed, wounded 
and miffing on that aufpicious day, as made tdGenXregt, 

£Lctt ta town by a Britljb Ofilcer prev'q^ ts the evacua* 
of it by the enemy, and new |Tii:ti 



A- 



id tor the 



taformation and auiufcmeitt of the turitui 



BOSTON. 

Printed, sr<5 to b« fold, bv J. G I I. L, ia Court Streer 

J 7 7 *• 






Title-page of D'Bernicre Narrative 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775. IJ 

who acted for him in this secret service were Cap- 
tain Brown of the 52c! Regiment, and Ensign D'Ber- 
nicre of the 10th Regiment. They were disguised 
in "brown clothes" with "reddish handkerchiefs" 
tied about their necks, and were accompanied by a 
servant. All three were well armed. 

General Gage's instructions to them, under date 
of Feb. 22, 1775, called for description of the roads, 
rivers, and hills; available places for encampments; 
whether or not the churches and churchyards were 
advantageous spots to take post in and capable of 
being made defensible. They were also told that 
information would be useful in reference to the 
provisions, forage, etc., which could be obtained at 
the several places they should pass through. 

Their first trip was to Worcester, in the latter 
part of February, and their next one to Concord, 
for which place they set out on March 20, passing 
through Roxbury, Brookline, and Weston, where 
they stopped at the Jones Tavern. Then they pro- 
ceeded through Sudbury, crossed over the South 
Bridge into Concord village, where they were enter- 
tained by a Mr. Bliss, a friend of the royal govern- 
ment. 

Wherever they went their mission was known in 
spite of their disguises. They succeeded, however, 
in bringing back to General Gage a very tolerable 
description of the country, and so fulfilled their 
mission. In Concord, especially, they located many 
of the provincial military stores, — information 
particularly useful to the invading force on April 19. 

Having thus possessed himself of sufficient data, 



l8 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

General Gage then laid his plans for a midnight 
march to Lexington and Concord, with the view, 
possibly, of capturing Hancock and Adams, who 
were known to be at the former place, and especially 
of destroying all the warlike supplies that had been 
gathered at Concord. 

On April 15 the grenadiers and light infantry had 
been relieved from duty, with the excuse that they 
were to learn a new exercise. That night, about 
12 o'clock, boats belonging to the transports which 
had been hauled up for repairs were launched and 
moored under the sterns of the men-of-war. 1 The 
" Somerset " was anchored near the Charlestown 
Ferry. 2 These movements awakened the suspicions 
of Dr. Warren, who lost no time in notifying Han- 
cock and Adams, then at Lexington. On the after- 
noon of April 18 he learned from several sources 
that the British were about to move. A gunsmith 
named Jasper learned as much from a British ser- 
geant, and lost no time in informing Colonel Waters 
of the Committee of Safety, who in turn gave the 
news to Warren. 3 John Ballard, connected with 
the stable in Milk Street, overheard some one in the 
Province House remark that there would "be hell 
to pay to-morrow," a remark so full of significance 
that he reported it to a friend of liberty in Ann 
Street, thought to have been William Dawes, who 
in turn reported it to Paul Revere. 3 

That night General Gage despatched ten or more 
sergeants, partially disguised, along the highways in 

1 Frothingham'8 Siege of Boston, page 56. 
s Holland, pages 7, 8. 
3 Holland, page 9. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 19 

Cambridge and beyond, toward Concord. They were 
instructed to intercept any passersby, and so prevent 
his intended movement from becoming known. A 
party of his officers dined at Wetherby's Tavern 1 in 
Menotomy (now Arlington), where also met that 
day the Committee of Safety and Committee of 
Supplies, some of whom — Mr. Gerry, Colonel Orne, 
and Colonel Lee — remained to pass the night. 2 

Solomon Brown of Lexington, a young man nine- 
teen years old, was the first to report in that town 
the unusual occurrence of so many officers along the 
highways in the night, and it was surmised there 
that the capture of Hancock and Adams was in- 
tended. Brown was returning home from Boston 
when they passed him on the road. Somehow gain- 
ing the front again he rode rapidly into Lexington 
village and reported what he had seen. Sergeant 
Munroe and eight men were sent to guard the par- 
sonage where the patriot statesmen were stopping, 
and Solomon Brown, Jonathan Loring, and Elijah 
Sanderson, all members of Captain Parker's Com- 
pany of Minute Men, were despatched to watch the 
officers after they had passed through Lexington 
toward Concord. They followed them on horseback 
into Lincoln, about two and a half miles from Lex- 
ington village, where they were ambushed by the 
ones they were following and taken prisoners. It 
was then about 10 o'clock in the evening of April 18. 
They were detained until Revere was also captured 
at the same place a few hours later, early in the 
morning of the 19th. 

1 Known also as the Black Horse Tavern. 
* Frothingham, page 10. 



20 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 



The British start for Lexington and Concord. 

The grenadiers and light infantry, under command 
of Lieut. Col. Francis Smith of the 10th Regiment, 
augmented by a detachment of marines under Maj. 
John Pitcairn, assembled at the foot of Boston Com- 
mon on the evening of April 18, and at about half 
past 10 o'clock embarked for Lechmere Point, or, as 
it was often called at that time, Phip's Farm, in East 
Cambridge. They numbered about 800 men. 1 

The "foot of the Common," was not far from the 
present corner of Boylston and Charles streets, and 
just there was the shore line of the Back Bay, a 
large body of water opening out into the Charles 
River. Since then the bay has been filled in, and is 
now an attractive residential district bearing still 
its ancient aquatic name, however. 

The transportation was by means of the rowboats 
connected with the British men-of-war and trans- 
ports, and was thus necessarily slow, and undoubt- 
edly required several trips. It seems probable that 
their course was westerly a little way, along the 
present Boylston Street, then northerly along the 
present Arlington Street, into the Charles River and 
across to Lechmere Point, a distance of about a 
mile and a quarter. 

They landed in the marshes nearly opposite the 
Court House on Second Street, for East Cambridge 
also was much smaller then than now. The water 
was too shallow to allow the heavily loaded boats to 

1 Frothingham's Siege of Boston. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 21 

reach dry land, so the troops waded knee deep to 
the shore. There they were halted in a "dirty 
road," as one of the British officers present termed 
it, 1 and detained still longer, that each might receive 
a day's rations and thirty-six rounds of ammunition. 

The Messengers of Alarm. 

The invading army safely across the Charles 
River was now really on its way, but with all its 
precautions for secrecy, its coming was even at that 
moment being heralded in every direction. The 
ever-vigilant Sons of Liberty had noticed the un- 
usual movements of the troops after dark, and so 
informed Dr. Warren. He quickly summoned Wil- 
liam Dawes and Paul Revere. Dawes arriving first 
was the first to start, and his route to Lexington 
was through Roxbury. So to him belongs the credit 
of being the first messenger out of Boston bearing 
the alarm of the British invasion. Paul Revere 
came soon after, and was carried over the Charles 
River considerably farther down than the British 
soldiers were crossing, and landed in Charlestown. 
His route to Lexington was much shorter than the 
one through Roxbury. 

Dr. Warren had arranged with these two men for 
this especial work, and so they were ready. Dawes 
had left home that afternoon, not even confiding to 
his wife his intention. Immediately after the em- 
barkation he was ready and on his way. He man- 
aged to elude the guard at Boston Neck by passing 

1 Diary of a British Officer in Boston in 1775. 



12 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

out with some soldiers. His ride was then through 
Roxbury, Brookline, Brighton, over the Charles 
River by bridge into Cambridge, at Harvard Square, 
and thence directly on to Lexington. So much 
longer was his route than Revere's that he did not 
reach there until half an hour later than Revere did, 
and then found that Hancock and Adams had been 
alarmed. The work of William Dawes was efficient 
over the route he traveled. In Lexington Revere 
waited for Dawes, and from there onwards toward 
Concord they traveled together. It is to be re- 
gretted that a more detailed account of the ride of 
William Dawes cannot be given, but momentary 
flashes of light reveal his course and his work. Re- 
vere left a narrative of his ride, and historians have 
fallen into the error of supposing him to be the only 
messenger with the warlike tidings. As we progress 
with this narrative we shall surmise that William 
Dawes and Paul Revere were but two out of many, 
for the exciting news radiated in every direction, 
and could only have been borne by riders equally as 
patriotic and fleet as those two. 

The previous Sunday evening Paul Revere had 
been out to Lexington for a conference with Han- 
cock and Adams, and on his return that same night 
to Charlestown he had agreed with Colonel Conant 
and some others to display lanterns in the North 
Church steeple if the troops should march, — one 
lantern if they went by land, which meant out over 
Boston Neck, through Roxbury, Brookline, and 
Brighton, into Harvard Square, Cambridge, and 
two if they crossed the Charles River in boats and 




William Dawes. 




Paul Revere. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775. 23 

landed at Lechmere Point in East Cambridge. This 
arrangement was made because it was surmised that 
no messenger would be allowed to leave Boston with 
the news while the troops were leaving. 

When Revere left Warren his first duty was to 
call upon Capt. John Pulling, Jr., 1 and arrange for 
the signal lanterns. Then he went to his home in 
North Square for his boots and surtout, and from 
there to where his boat was moored beneath a cob- 
wharf, near the present Craigie Bridge, in the north 
part of the town. Two friends accompanied him, 
Joshua Bentley and Thomas Richardson. 2 

Their point of starting was not far from the then 
Charlestown Ferry, the boats of which were drawn 
up nightly at 9 o'clock. Out in the Charles River 
was anchored the " Somerset", a British man-of- 
war. It was young flood, and the moon was rising. 3 
Fearing that the noise of the oars in the oarlocks 
might alarm the sentry, Revere despatched one of 
his companions for something to muffle them with, 
who soon returned with a petticoat, yet warm from 
the body of a fair daughter of Liberty, who was 
glad to contribute to the cause. 4 Rowing out into 
the river and passing to the eastward of the "Som- 
erset" they looked back, and there, shining from 
the tall steeple of Christ Church, the Old North, 
were two signal lanterns. 

* Boston Sunday Globe, April 19, 1908. Article on Lanterns hung in the 
Steeple. 

s Goss, E. H., Life of Paul Revere. 

» Full moon April 15; moon rose on April 18, at 9.4s P.". Low's Almanack 
for I77S- 

4 She was an ancestor of John R. Adan, and lived in the Ochterlong-Adan 
house, at the corner of North and North Centre streets. Goss, Life of Paul Revere. 



24 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

Far up into the valleys of the Mystic and the 
Charles those twinkling rays gleamed, and their 
meaning, picked up wherever it fell, was carried 
still farther to the remoter hamlets and villages 
beyond the hills. 

When Captain Pulling left Paul Revere he pro- 
ceeded at once to the home of the sexton of Christ 
Church, Robert Newman, who lived on Salem 
Street, opposite Bennett Street. Pulling was ves- 
tryman of the church, and when he demanded the 
keys of Newman they were handed to him without 
question. Pulling proceeded to the church, climbed 
the belfry stairs, hung two lighted lanterns out of 
the highest little window, forty-two feet above the 
sidewalk, 1 descended, made his exit through a 
window, and so escaped unnoticed. 

Those lanterns were seen by all who looked, and 
quickly British soldiers sought out the sexton and 
placed him under arrest. His denial of any knowl- 
edge as to who displayed the lanterns was believed, 
and he was released. Pulling, disguised as a sailor, 
escaped from Boston in a fishing vessel, landed in 
Nantucket, and did not return until after the siege. 2 

Revere and his two companions reached the 
Charlestown shore in safety. Their landing place 
was near the old battery at Gage's Wharf, not far 
from No. 85 of the present Water Street, near City 
Square. They were met by Colonel Conant and 
several others, who reported that the lanterns had 

1 Goss, Life of Paul Revere. 

1 Capt. John Pulling, Jr., was son of John and Martha Pulling. Born In 
Boston Feb. 18, 1737. Resided on corner of Ann and Cross streets in 1775. Died 
in 1787. Goss, Life of Paul Revere. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 2$ 

been seen and interpreted. While Revere was wait- 
ing for his horse, which was furnished by Deacon 
Larkin, Richard Devens, one of the Committee of 
Safety, came and told Revere that as he came down 
the road from Lexington after sundown that evening 
he met ten British officers, all well mounted and 
armed, going up the road. 

It was about 1 1 o'clock when Revere started from 
the Charlestown shore on his mission to alarm. He 
had intended to proceed over Charlestown Neck, 
through Somerville to Cambridge and thence to 
Lexington. Just such a ride as his had been antici- 
pated, for he had gone but a short distance along the 
Cambridge road beyond Charlestown Neck when he 
perceived two mounted British officers halted under 
the shadows of a tree in a narrow part of the road. 1 
Near by was the gibbet where Mark, the negro 
slave, executed in 1755 for poisoning his master, 
hung in chains for about fifteen years. 

Revere wheeled his horse and made his escape, 
retreating along the road to the Neck, then turning 
into the Mystic road, which runs over Winter Hill 
into Medford. 2 There he awakened the captain of 
the Minute Men, Isaac Hall, and alarmed almost if 
not every house on the way to Lexington. His 
road was through West Medford to Arlington Centre, 
there turning at the Cooper Tavern northwesterly 
toward Lexington. He reached the parsonage in 
Lexington at midnight, which then stood on the 
westerly side of Bedford Road, about a quarter of 

1 In Somerville on Washington Street, near Crescent Street. 

2 Now Broadway and Main Street in Somerville, and Main Street in Medford. 



26 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

a mile beyond the Common. 1 Within were sleeping 
John Hancock and Samuel Adams. Keeping guard 
outside were eight men under Sergt. William Munroe, 
who cautioned Revere not to make too much noise 
lest he should awaken the family, who had just 
retired. 

"Noise!" exlaimed Revere; "you'll have noise 
enough before long. The Regulars are coming 
out." 

But he had already alarmed the inmates, for the 
window was raised, and the parson, Mr. Clarke, 
inquired who was there. Revere, without answer- 
ing the question, said he wished to see Mr. Hancock. 

"Come in, Revere!" exclaimed Hancock, who 
also had been awakened; "we are not afraid of you." 

Half an hour later Dawes rode up from his longer 
ride from Boston. 2 Dawes and Revere partook of 
refreshments and together set out for Concord. 
Not far beyond Lexington Common they were 
overtaken by a young man, Dr. Samuel Prescott, 
whose home was in Concord. That evening he 
had been visiting the young lady to whom he was 
engaged to be married, Miss Mulliken of Lexington. 
Revere spoke of the ten officers that Devens had 
met, and of the probability that they would attempt 
to stop them before they should reach Concord. It 
was planned to alarm every house on the way. Dr. 
Prescott volunteered to remain with the two riders, 
as his acquaintance with the people along the road 

1 Bedford Road is now called Hancock Street, and a newer road to Bedford is 
called Bedford Street. The old parsonage is still standing, though moved from 
its original location to one a few rods across the street. 

' Revere's ride was I2g§ miles, and Dawes's ride was 1 61 J miles. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, IJJ$. 2J 

might be needed to vouch for the genuineness of the 
message. 

His company was accepted and very welcome. 
They rode along, alarming each household, a little 
over two and a half miles from Lexington Common. 
Dawes and Prescott had stopped at a house to 
arouse the inmates, and Revere was about a hundred 
rods ahead, when he saw two men in the highway. 
He called loudly for Dawes and Prescott to come up, 
thinking to capture them, but just then two more 
appeared, coming through the bars from a pasture 
on the right, or northerly side of the road, where 
they had been standing in the shadow of a tree. 
They proved to be officers of the British Army. 
Dawes wheeled his horse back toward Lexington 
and escaped. Prescott and Revere attempted to 
ride toward Concord, but were intercepted and 
ordered to move through the bars into the pasture 
or have their brains blown out. They preferred to 
do as ordered, but when a little way inside, Prescott 
said to Revere, "Put on," and immediately jumped 
his horse over the stone wall at his left and disap- 
peared down the farm road leading into a ravine 
where rise the headwaters of the Shawsheen River. 
He knew the location well, and easily followed the 
road through the thicket until it comes out on the 
Concord road again, a half mile or so beyond. 
Revere, not so well acquainted with the location, 
headed toward the dense woods on the lower edge 
of the pasture, thinking to dismount within their 
shadows and escape on foot. Six more British 
officers were in hiding there, and they easily seized 



28 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

his horse's bridle, and with pistols leveled at his 
breast ordered him to dismount. 

And so there in Lincoln, about two and one-half 
miles beyond Lexington, ended the midnight rides 
of William Dawes and Paul Revere. Prescott had 
gone on to continue the alarm, Dawes had retreated 
toward Lexington, and Revere was a prisoner. 
While the latter was being secured, three or four of 
the officers started up the road in pursuit of Dawes, 
who galloped his horse furiously up to a farmhouse, 
where he reined in so suddenly that he was thrown 
to the ground. With great presence of mind he 
shouted loudly for assistance, exclaiming: "Hello, 
my boys. I've got two of 'em." 

The British in pursuit, supposing they were 
ambushed in turn, retreated and made good their 
escape. Dawes rose from the ground and found 
himself quite alone, for the house, which might 
have contained a force of American Minute Men, 
was empty and deserted. He mounted his horse 
and rode leisurely away. 1 

But Revere was not the only prisoner captured 
by the British officers in Lincoln. Solomon Brown, 
Jonathan Loring, and Elijah Sanderson, all of Lex- 
ington, had been passing along at that place about 
10 o'clock the previous evening (for it was now after 
midnight, April 19), and were detained and being 
held as prisoners when Revere was added. A one- 

1 Unfortunately no poet has ever thought the ride of William Dawes a suf- 
ficiently thrilling one for a place in poetic literature. When he left the farmhouse 
he rode into obscurity. For the incidents in Lincoln that he took part in I am 
indebted to his granddaughter, Mrs. Mehitable May Goddard, as narrated in 
Henry W. Holland's book, William Dawes and his Ride with Paul Revere. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL I9, 1775- 29 

handed peddler, Allen by name, was also a prisoner, 
having been captured after Brown and his two com- 
panions. For some reason he was not long delayed, 
but released, and went his way. 

Revere was ordered to dismount, and one of the 
six proceeded to examine him, asking his name; if 
he was an express; and what time he left Boston. 
He answered each question truthfully, and added 
that the troops in passing the river had got aground; 
that he had alarmed the country on the way up; 
and that 500 Americans would soon be present. 
This was rather disturbing news for his captors, and 
the one who had acted as spokesman rode to the 
four who had first halted the messengers. After a 
short conference the five returned on a gallop, and 
one of them, whom Revere afterwards found to 
be Major Mitchell of the 5th Regiment, clapped a 
pistol to his head, and, calling him by name, said 
he should ask him some questions, and if they were 
not answered truthfully he should blow his brains 
out. Revere answered the many questions, some of 
them new ones and some the same as he had already 
answered. He was then directed to mount, and the 
whole party proceeded toward Lexington. After 
riding about a mile Major Mitchell instructed the 
officer leading Revere's horse to turn him over to the 
sergeant, who was instructed to blow the prisoner's 
brains out if he attempted to escape, or if any insults 
were offered to his captors on the way. 

When within half a mile of Lexington meeting 
house, on the Common, they heard a gun fired, and 
Major Mitchell, beginning to feel alarmed, asked 



30 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

Revere its cause, who told him it was an alarm. The 
other prisoners were then ordered to dismount, and 
one of the officers cut the bridles of their horses and 
drove them away. Revere asked to be discharged, 
also, but his request was not heeded. 

Coming a little nearer to the meeting house, 
within sight of it in fact, they heard a volley of gun 
shots, whereupon Major Mitchell called a halt, and 
questioned Revere again as to the distance to Cam- 
bridge, and if there were two roads going there, etc. 
He then ordered him to dismount and exchange 
horses with the sergeant, who cut away bridle and 
saddle from his own, which was a small one and well- 
nigh exhausted, before completing the exchange. 1 

The officers then hastily disappeared down the 
road toward Lexington meeting house, and Revere 
made his way, probably afoot, across the old ceme- 
tery and the adjacent pasture near Lexington Com- 
mon, to the parsonage on Bedford Road, where he 
had left Hancock and Adams a few hours earlier. 

The entire distance that Revere rode, from the 
Charlestown shore to the spot in Lincoln where he 
was captured, and back to Lexington Common, was 
between eighteen and nineteen miles, and the 
elapsed time nearly four hours. 

Flight of Hancock and Adams. 

The narration of Revere's adventures was eagerly 
listened to by the patriots assembled at the parson- 

1 Tradition says that Deacon Larkin's horse died from the effects of the 
strenuous ride of Revere, but it is probable that his second rider may have been 
equally or more of a contributory cause, as Revere's ride was not long and fast 
enough to kill a horse in sound condition. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 3 1 

age. Hancock and Adams were urged to flee by 
their friends. Hancock was loth to do so, but 
Adams persuaded him that their duties were execu- 
tive rather than military, so they prepared for a 
hasty retreat. Their flight commenced in a chaise 
driven by Jonas Clarke, son of the minister. 1 Mr. 
Lowell, Hancock's secretary, and Paul Revere 
accompanied them for two miles into Burlington, 
where they stopped, first at the house of Mr. Reed 
for a little time, and then continued farther on to 
the home of Madame Jones, widow of Rev. Thomas 
Jones, and of Rev. Mr. Marrett. Then they sent 
back to the parsonage for Hancock's betrothed, 
Dorothy Quincy, his aunt, Mrs. Hancock, and 
lastly, a "fine salmon," which had been presented 
to them for dinner, and naturally forgotten as they 
started on their flight. All of these arrived in due 
time, and then Revere and Lowell returned to Lex- 
ington Common, with the intention of rescuing a 
trunk and its contents which belonged to Hancock, 
and which he had left at the Buckman Tavern. 

The fugitives were about to sit down to the 
salmon dinner when a Lexington farmer, in great 
excitement, rushed in exclaiming that the British 
were coming, and that his wife was even then in 
"eternity." The salmon dinner was abandoned, and 
the flight continued, under the guidance of Mr. 
Marrett, to Amos Wyman's, where they finally sat 
down to a dinner, not of salmon, but of cold salt 
pork and potatoes served on a wooden tray. The 
last stopping place was just over the boundary line 

» Holland. 



32 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

of Woburn into Billerica, easterly from the present 
Lowell Turnpike, and northerly from the Lexington 
parsonage about four miles. 

Samuel Adams had left behind him somewhere on 
the road his immortal saying: "What a glorious 
morning for America is this." 1 

Revere and Lowell reached Buckman Tavern, and 
there learned from a man who had just come up the 
road that the troops were within two miles. They 
proceeded to a chamber for the trunk, which they 
secured, and, looking out of the window toward 
Boston, saw the King's soldiers but a little way off. 
They quickly made their exit from the Tavern, 
passed along the Common through Captain Parker's 
company, or rather a small part of it, and heard his 
words: "Let the troops pass by and don't molest 
them without they begin first." 2 

When a little farther along, "not half gunshot off" 
as Revere expresses it, he heard a single gun, turned 
and saw the smoke of it rising just in front of the 
troops, heard them give a great shout, saw them 
run a few paces, heard irregular firing as of an ad- 
vance guard, and then firing by platoons. 

The American Revolution had indeed commenced. 

1 It has sometimes been written that Hancock and Adams first went to a little 
wooded hill southeasterly from the parsonage overlooking Lexington Common, and 
perhaps half a mile away, where they remained concealed until after the British 
had passed, and that Adams, looking down upon that first scene of bloodshed, 
expressed himself as above quoted. But I cannot reconcile that statement with 
Revere's own version of the flight wherein he speaks of going with them two 
miles and then returning for Hancock's trunk at the Buckman Tavern, which 
he succeeded in getting just before the British arrived there at 5 o'clock. Thus 
Adams could not have witnessed the opening scene on Lexington Common. 

1 Revere's Narrative. Otherwise quoted as "Don't fire unless fired upon, but 
if they want war, let it begin here." Lexington Historical Society, Proceedings, 
Vol. I, page 46. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 33 



Alarms in Other Places. 

It must not be imagined that information of the 
night march of the troops was known only along 
the highway to their destination in Concord. There 
were fleet messengers in every direction, through the 
counties of Middlesex, Essex, and Norfolk. Those 
lanterns in the North Church steeple meant as 
much to many others as to those on the Charlestown 
shore. But few details of their rides have been left 
to us. Yet everywhere the hoof-beats, the shadowy 
form of the horseman, his cry of alarm, the drums, 
the bells, the guns, the assembling of the Minute 
Men, their hurried march toward that one long and 
thin highway from Boston to Concord, — some of 
these are known and can be written of as a part of 
the record of that day. 

Northerly along the coast the alarm went. At 
Lynn, ten miles away, the inhabitants were awakened 
in the early morn of the 19th by the information 
that 800 British soldiers had left Boston in the 
night and were proceeding toward Concord. Many 
immediately set out for the scene of the invasion, 
singly and in little bands, without waiting to march 
in company file. 1 

At Woburn, ten miles from Boston, a man rode 
up to the house of Mr. Douglass, about an hour 
before sunrise, and knocked loudly at the door, 
saying: "There is an alarm — the British are coming 
out; and if there is any soldier in the house he must 

1 Lewis and Newhall's History of Lynn, page 338. 



34 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

turn out and repair to Lexington as soon as pos- 
sible." 1 

Such is the sworn statement of Robert Douglass, 
who lived in Portland, Me., but who was then stay- 
ing at his father's home in Woburn. He arose and 
started for Lexington, four miles away, with Syl- 
vanus Wood. And Douglass, upon arrival, paraded 
with Captain Parker's company. Col. Loammi 
Baldwin resided in Woburn, and entered in his 
diary some of his experiences of the day. Under 
date of April 19 he says that in the morning, a little 
before the break of day, they were alarmed by Mr. 
Stedman's express from Cambridge. With others 
he hurried to Lexington, but could not reach the 
Common in time to participate in the opening 
struggle. They saw the stains of blood on the 
ground, hurried on to Lincoln, and at Tanner's 
Brook commenced to harass the British on their 
return. 2 

In Reading, twelve miles from Boston, alarm guns 
were fired just at sunrise. Edmund Foster in a 
letter to Col. Daniel Shattuck of Concord, dated 
March 10, 1825, speaks at length of his personal 
experiences. Following the guns came a post, 
bringing the information that the Regulars had gone 
to Concord. 

In Danvers, sixteen miles away, news of the 
British advance was given at about 9 o'clock, and 
was communicated to the citizens by bells and 
drums, who responded by thronging to the rendez- 

1 Deposition of Robert Douglass. 

2 Beneath Old Roof Trees. A. E. Brown. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 35 

vous near the Old South Church at the bend of the 
Boston road. Women were there, not with en- 
treaty, but to fasten on the belt and gird on the 
sword. 1 

At Andover, twenty-five miles away, the alarm 
was given at about sunrise, and Minute Men were 
ready to march for Concord at about io o'clock. 
On their way through Tewksbury they learned that 
eight Americans had been killed at Lexington; and 
at Billerica, that the British were killing Americans 
at Concord. Reaching Bedford they learned more 
definitely that two Americans had been killed at 
Concord, and that the enemy was falling back. 2 

Lexington lies in a northwesterly direction from 
Boston, at a distance of about eleven miles. At that 
time it was the temporary abiding place of John 
Hancock and Samuel Adams, who were stopping at 
the parsonage of Rev. Jonas Clarke. It was then 
supposed that one of the objects of General Gage 
was to effect their capture, and that his other object 
was the destruction of military stores at Concord. 
Possibly the first intimation that Lexington had of 
the proposed hostile visit of Gage's troops was com- 
municated by a young man, Solomon Brown, who 
had been to Boston on market business, and on his 
return had passed a patrol of British officers. There 
were ten of them; it was late in the afternoon or 
early evening of April 18, and they were riding 
away from Boston toward Lexington, which seemed 

1 Hansen's History of Beverly, page 88; Hurd's Middlesex County, Vol. II, 
page 1010. 

2 Journal of Thomas Boynton of Captain Ames's company, and Hurd's His- 
tory of Essex County, Vol. II, page 1572. 



36 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

out of harmony with their ordinary way of riding 
back to Boston at night. Mr. Brown kept some- 
what near them along the road for awhile that he 
might the better determine their intentions, allow- 
ing them to pass and repass him several times. 
Having at last satisfied himself that their mission 
meant more than a pleasure sortie into the country, 
he gained the lead once more, and when out of 
their sight rode rapidly to Lexington and reported 
his observations to Orderly Sergeant William Mun- 
roe, proprietor of Munroe's Tavern. 1 

These ten officers riding in advance must have 
known that actual hostilities were at hand, for they 
not only detained travelers on the highway, but 
deliberately insulted a large number of the inhabit- 
ants along the road. Three or four of them, at 
least, went far beyond the behavior of military men 
in time of peace, for as they rode into Lexington 
they stopped at the house of Matthew Mead, 
entered and helped themselves to the prepared 
family supper of brown bread and baked beans. 
Mrs. Mead and her daughter Rhoda were within, 

1 In an article on the Munroe Tavern in the Proceedings of the Lexington 
Historical Society, Vol. Ill, page 146, Albert W. Bryant recites a tradition that 
the information of ten British officers riding up the road was given to Sergeant 
Munroe, who gave the first general alarm that assembled Captain Parker's 
company. A messenger later was sent down the road on a scouting trip for the 
British, but he did not return. A second was sent who did not return. A third 
was sent who also did not return. A fourth was despatched who did return 
with the news that the British Army was really marching on Lexington, and 
that the previous messengers who had been sent down the road had met and 
passed two or more British soldiers riding in advance of the main body, who then 
closed in on them as prisoners. The horse of the fourth messenger had become 
frightened at the two advancing Britons and turned back in spite of his rider, who 
caught a glimpse of the British front ranks on the march. (This last messenger 
was Capt. Thaddeus Bowman, F. W. C.) 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775. 37 

and Mr. Mead and two sons were absent. This 
Lexington home was at the corner of Massachusetts 
Avenue and Woburn Street, where the Russell House 
now stands. 1 

Quickly following Solomon Brown's message came 
a written one, directed to John Hancock, sent by 
Elbridge Gerry, one of the Committee of Supplies, 
then sitting at the Black Horse Tavern in Menot- 
omy. It was practically to the same effect, "that 
eight or nine officers of the King's troops were seen, 
just before night, passing the road towards Lexing- 
ton, in a musing, contemplative posture; and it was 
supposed they were out upon some evil design." 2 

Hancock at once replied to Gerry that it was said 
the officers had gone to Concord, and that he would 
send word thither. 3 

But naturally it was surmised that the capture of 
Hancock and Adams was intended, so a guard of 
eight men, under Sergt. William Munroe, was sta- 
tioned around the home of Rev. Jonas Clarke. 
About forty of the members of Captain Parker's 
company gathered at the Buckman Tavern after the 
mounted officers passed through Lexington, 4 and it 
was deemed best that scouts should be sent out to 
follow them. Accordingly Solomon Brown, Jona- 
than Loring, and Elijah Sanderson volunteered to 
act. They started about 9 o'clock in the evening, 5 

1 Our Grandmothers of 1775, by Miss Elizabeth W.Harrington in Lexington 
Historical Society, Proceedings, Vol. I, page 51. 

2 Rev. Jonas Clarke'6 Narrative. 

* Life of Elbridge Gerry, by James T. Austin, page 67. 

* Deposition of Joseph Underwood. 

8 Sanderson having no horse was offered one by Thaddeus Harrington, which 
he accepted. Deposition of Elijah Sanderson. 



38 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

and, as we have previously written, they were am- 
bushed and captured at about 10 o'clock on the 
road toward Concord, in the town of Lincoln, by 
the same ones they had set out to follow. 

Soon after the arrival of Paul Revere, between 
12 and 1 o'clock in the morning of April 19, with the 
intelligence of the starting of the King's troops, 
Captain Parker assembled his company on the 
Common. The roll was called and they were in- 
structed to load with powder and ball. One of the 
messengers who had been sent toward Boston re- 
turned and reported that he could not discover any 
troops on the way out, which raised some doubts 
as to their coming. It was between I and 2 o'clock 
when they were dismissed with instructions, how- 
ever, to remain in the immediate neighborhood for 
quick response to the call of the drum. Many of 
them adjourned to Buckman's Tavern, and the 
others, living in the immediate vicinity, returned to 
their homes. 

Between daylight and sunrise Capt. Thaddeus 
Bowman rode up, and reported that the Regulars 
were near. The drum was beat and Captain Parker's 
little band assembled on the Common. 

The soldiers of the King were but one hundred 
rods down the road. 1 

Bedford, an adjoining town to Lexington, and 
about fifteen miles from Boston, was alarmed on 
the evening of the 18th by Nathan Munroe and 
Benjamin Tidd, both of Lexington, who had been 
sent there by Captain Parker because of the sus- 

1 Deposition of William Munroe, containing statement also of a British 
prisoner. 




Fireplace in the Buckman Tavern, Lexington, around which 
some of Captain Parker's Minute Men gathered before 
the battle. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL I9, 1775- 39 

picious actions of the British officers on their way to 
Concord. Munroe and Tidd aroused the town, and 
some of the Minute Men rallied at the tavern kept 
by Jeremiah Fitch, Jr., and were there served with 
light refreshments. Captain Willson said: "It is a 
cold breakfast, boys, but we will give the British a 
hot dinner. We'll have every dog of them before 
night." 1 

The larger Bedford rally was at the oak tree 
standing in the little triangle a few rods west of the 
village, where the road to Concord branches away 
from the road to Billerica. 2 

Munroe and Tidd continued their alarm to Mer- 
iam's Corner in Concord, and returned to Lexington 
in time to hear the first alarm bell in the morning 
of the 19th, and witness the assembling of Cap- 
tain Parker's company. Munroe, being a member, 
joined the ranks, and Tidd remained on or near the 
Common and was dispersed with the rest. 3 

Josiah Nelson, living in the northeast part of 
Lincoln, was awakened on the night of the 18th by 
horsemen passing up the road. Rushing out partly 
dressed, to ascertain who they were, he received a 
blow on his head from a sword, cutting sufficiently 
to draw the blood. He was seized and detained a 
little while by his British captors, and when released 
had his wound dressed, and hurried to Bedford and 
gave the alarm in that town also. 4 

Billerica, seventeen miles northwest from Boston, 

1 Brown's History of Bedford, page 24. 

2 Brown's History of Bedford, page 53. 

3 Deposition of Tidd and Abbot. 

4 Brown's Beneath Old Roof Trees, pages 218, 219. 



40 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

probably received the alarm about 2 o'clock, and 
when the encounter on Lexington Common took place 
few if any families but had heard the call to arms. 1 

Concord, seventeen miles northwesterly from 
Boston, was first aroused by Dr. Samuel Prescott, 
between I and 2 o'clock in the morning of the 19th. 
He had just escaped from the British, in Lincoln, 
at the time they captured Revere. It was nearly 
3 o'clock when the alarm bell was rung 2 whereupon 
several posts were despatched, who, returning, 
brought the news that the Regulars were indeed 
coming; that they had reached Lexington, and 
killed six Americans, and then started for Concord. 3 
Captain Minot's company took possession of the 
hill to the eastward above the meeting house, and 
Captain Brown's company marched up the road to 
meet the enemy. 4 

Corp. Amos Barrett of Capt. David Brown's 
company has left a written statement that he thinks 
150 Minute Men had assembled. His company 
resolved to go up the road toward Lexington and 
meet the British. They accordingly marched a mile 
or a mile and a half when they saw them coming. 
They halted and awaited them, and when they were 
within one hundred rods were ordered by their 
captain to about face. They marched back to the 

1 Hazen's History of Billerica, page 235. 

* "Amos Melvin, the guard on duty at the Court House, had discharged his 
gun and rung out the town bell." Brown's Beneath Old Roof Trees, page 102. 

8 Diary of Rev. Wm. Emerson in R. W. Emerson's Discourse, and Capt. Amos 
Barrett's Account of the Battle in True's Journal. 

1 Deposition of Capt. Nathan Barrett and fifteen others of Concord, and Dep- 
osition of John Hoar and seven others of Lincoln, present in Concord before the 
arrival of the British. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 41 

village to the music of their fife and drum, the 
British following, also playing their fifes and drums. 1 

Brown's company consolidated with Minot's, and 
both took up a new position a little farther north on 
the adjoining hill, back of the town. The British 
were so many more in number that it was thought 
prudent to still farther retire. Accordingly the 
two companies marched down the hill, over the 
North Bridge, distant three-quarters of a mile from 
the village, and took a new and stronger position 
on Punkatasset Hill, a little more than a mile from 
the village, but clearly overlooking it. There they 
welcomed the reinforcements that were arriving 
from the neighboring towns. 

In Tewksbury, twenty miles northwesterly from 
Boston, the alarm was given at about 2 o'clock in 
the morning. "The British are on their way to 
Concord, and I have alarmed all the towns from 
Charlestown to here," 2 were the words that aroused 
Capt. John Trull from his slumber, who in turn 
fired his gun to arouse General Varnum, across the 
Merrimack River in Dracut, a signal previously 
agreed upon between them. When Captain Trull 
reached the village his men were awaiting him, and 
they at once started for Concord. There were two 
other Tewksbury companies commanded, respec- 
tively, by Capt. Jonathan Brown and Capt. Thomas 
Clark, who also responded to the alarm. 

In Acton, twenty-one miles northwesterly from 
Boston and the adjoining town to Concord, westerly, 

1 Capt. Amos Barrett's Account of the Battle. 

• Drake's Middlesex County, Vol. II, pages 375, 376. 



42 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775. 

the alarm was given early in the morning. Col. 
Francis Faulkner resided in South Acton. His son, 
Francis, Jr., was lying awake and listening to the 
clatter of a horse's hoofs drawing nearer and nearer. 
Suddenly he leaped from his bed and ran to his 
father's room, adjoining, and exclaimed: "Father, 
there's a horse coming on the full run, and he's 
bringing news!" 

His father had heard the horseman also, for he 
was partly dressed with gun in hand. Across the 
bridge and up to the house came the messenger. 

"Rouse your Minute Men, Mr. Faulkner, the 
British are marching on Lexington and Concord." 
And away he rode to spread the news. 

Colonel Faulkner, without completing his dress, 
fired his gun three times as fast as he could load, 
that being the preconcerted signal. Very quickly 
a neighbor repeated it, and the boy, still listening, 
heard a repetition many times, each farther away. 
Thus was Acton aroused. 

At the home of Colonel Faulkner very soon as- 
sembled Captain Hunt's company. Women were 
there, too, to help as they might. Stakes were driven 
into the lawn, kettles hung, fires built, and a dinner 
for the soldiers soon cooked. Some of the older boys 
were delighted to follow on and carry it in saddle- 
bags, separately from the Minute Men, with instruc- 
tions to take the field roads if the British should be 
found occupying the highways. Colonel Faulkner 
marched away with Captain Hunt's company, to 
take command of the Middlesex Regiment, which 
he was supposed to be assembling at Concord. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL I9, 1775- 43 

The home of Captain Davis was about a mile 
westerly from the meeting house in the center 
of Acton, and about six miles from the North Bridge 
in Concord. His company was assembling rapidly, 
and when about twenty had reported he was anxious 
to march. A man of serious mien, he seemed par- 
ticularly so on the morning of April 19. One of his 
companions, speaking cheerily, perhaps lightly, was 
gently reproved by the brave captain, who seemed 
to have a premonition of his own fate, and reminded 
the other of what the day might have in store for 
them. They were about to proceed when he turned 
to his wife, as if to speak, but he could only say: 
"Take good care of the children." x 

Then he turned and marched away with his little 
command. It might have been 7 o'clock when he 
started, 2 to the lively tune of the "White Cockade," 
played by his fifer, Luther Blanchard, and his 
drummer, Francis Barker. 

When they reached the westerly part of Concord 
they must have learned what the British were doing 
at the home of Colonel Barrett, for they left the 
highway and passed into the fields to the northward 
of the Barrett home, stopping for a while a little 
way off to watch the King's soldiers in their work 
of destruction of the military stores. Continuing 
again, they marched through the fields until they 
came out into the highway at Widow Brown's 
Tavern, 3 which was situated across the river from 

1 Deposition of his widow. 

s Between one and two hours after sunrise. Deposition of his widow. 

8 Deposition of Charles Handley. 



44 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

Concord village, a mile away. From there they 
proceeded by way of the Back Road, so called, to 
the high ground, rising about a quarter of a mile to 
the westward of the North Bridge. 

Other companies of militia and Minute Men were 
already assembled there, and Captain Davis marched 
his men, who now numbered about forty, to the left 
of the line, a position that had been assigned to him 
at the muster a little while before. 

From this position they looked down upon the 
gently flowing Concord River; upon the old North 
Bridge which crossed just in the immediate fore- 
ground; upon the red-coated soldiers who stood 
grimly on guard at the nearer end; and beyond, up 
the river to Concord village, three-quarters of a 
mile away, where curling volumes of smoke seemed 
to indicate the burning of American homes. 

In Chelmsford, twenty-three miles northwesterly 
from Boston, the alarm was early given by a mounted 
messenger, upon which guns were fired and drums 
beat. Minute Men met at the alarm post, a rock 
standing where the hay scales were placed in after 
years. Acting Captain, Col. Moses Parker's com- 
pany, and Capt. Oliver Barron's company, marched, 
not in regular order, but in squads, and came into 
Concord at Meriam's Corner and on Hardy's Hill 
in time for the pursuit. 

In Dracut, twenty-five miles from Boston, the 
alarm was given soon after 2 o'clock by the firing of 
a gun by Captain Trull across the Merrimack River 
in Tewksbury, a signal previously agreed upon, 
which aroused General Varnum. Two companies 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL IQ, 1775- 45 

marched immediately, one under Capt. Peter Co- 
burn, and the other under Capt. Stephen Russell. 
They were, however, too remote from the scene of 
strife to meet the British, but continued their rapid 
march to Cambridge. 

Littleton, twenty-five miles from Boston, was 
alarmed in the morning by the news of the British 
march on Concord. The messenger then hurried 
over Beaver Brook Bridge and into the towns 
beyond, on his mission. 

Even in Pepperell, thirty-five miles northwesterly 
from Boston, the alarm went, reaching there about 
9 o'clock. Colonel Prescott gave orders to the 
Pepperell and Hollis companies, to march to Groton, 
there to join others of the regiment. 1 

Roxbury, the adjoining town to Boston, south- 
westerly, was naturally the first town in that direc- 
tion to know of the movement of the British. Wil- 
liam Dawes, the first messenger out of Boston, as 
we have seen, passed through the town on his round- 
about way to Lexington, and must have delivered 
his first message there before 1 1 o'clock on the even- 
ing of the 18th. There were three companies under 
the command of Capt. Moses Whiting, Capt. 
William Draper, and Capt. Lemuel Child, respec- 
tively, who took active parts in the events of the 
19th. As they marched for the scene of strife 
many women and children fled to other towns for 
greater safety. 2 

1 Lorenzo P. Blood in Hurd's Middlesex County, Vol. Ill, page 231. 

s There is a tradition in the Greaton family that Mrs. Greaton took her younger 
children and such articles as she could carry in a cart and fled to Brookline, the 
older children walking beside the vehicle. Drake's Roxbury, page 61. 



46 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

The news reached Dedham, ten miles south- 
westerly from Boston, a little after 9 o'clock in the 
morning. It came by way of Needham and Dover. 1 

Framingham, eighteen miles southwesterly from 
Boston, was alarmed before 8 o'clock in the morning. 
A bell was rung and alarm guns fired, which assem- 
bled many of the two companies of militia and one 
of Minute Men, who started in about an hour. Cap- 
tain Edget went on foot the entire distance, and 
carried his gun. Those living in the extreme south 
and west parts of the town followed a little later. 
Not long after the men had left, a report was started 
that negroes were coming to massacre them all, 
which seemed the more frightful to the women and 
children because of the absence of about all the able- 
bodied men. For those defenceless ones at home it 
was a terrible day. 2 

Newton, seven miles westerly from Boston, was 
alarmed at early dawn by a volley from one of 
John Pigeon's field guns, kept at the gunhouse in 
Newton Centre, near the church. 3 

Sudbury, eighteen miles westerly from Boston, 
received its first news by a messenger from Concord, 
eight miles away, who reported to Thomas Plymp- 
ton, a member of the Provincial Congress. Captain 
Nixon was aroused by a messenger, who shouted: 
" Up, up! The Red Coats are up as far as Concord." 

Captain Nixon started off at once on horseback. 4 

In Worcester, forty miles westerly, from Boston,' 

1 Haven's Historical Address, page 46. 

4 Rev. Josiah H. Temple in Hurd's Middlesex County, Vol. Ill, page 624. 

3 Smith's Newton, page 341. 

4 Hudson's Sudbury, pages 374, 371;, and Hudson in Hurd's Middlesex County, 
Vol. II, page 401. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 47 

the people were alarmed before noon by a messenger 
mounted on a white horse dripping with sweat, and 
bloody from spurring. Driving at full speed through 
the town he shouted: "To arms! to arms! The 
war has begun!" 

At the church the horse fell exhausted. Another 
was procured and the news still went on. The bell 
rang out the alarm, cannon were fired, and special 
messengers despatched to every part of the town to 
summon the soldiers. In a little while no men, 
under Capt. Timothy Bigelow, were paraded on the 
Green, and soon marched for Concord. They were 
met on the way by the intelligence of the British 
retreat, so they changed their course toward Boston. 1 

It would be interesting to know the full details of 
that messenger's long ride, and just where in the 
westward it ended. His exhausted horse, covered 
with bloody foam, falling in the street before the 
church, must have been a spectacular sight, and 
one that spoke loudly of that terrific ride, perhaps 
the longest one of all the messengers. And we can 
safely imagine that all along his course other mes- 
sengers, drawing their inspiration from him, rode 
into the north and into the south, bearing with them 
the news that he bore; and that in turn their words 
were echoed by the gun volley, the clanging bell and 
the drum beat. 

The reveille had now been sounded in Essex, in 
Middlesex, in Norfolk, and in Worcester counties, 
and the Minute Men were on their way to the battle 
of April 19. 

1 Lincoln and Hersey'g History of Worcester, page 97. 



48 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 



Lieutenant Colonel Smith's Advance through 
Cambridge. 

Let us now return to the King's soldiers under the 
command of Lieutenant Colonel Smith, whom we left 
on the shore of Charles River at Lechmere Point in 
Cambridge. It was I o'clock on the morning of the 
19th before the column was fully under way. 1 

Lechmere Point then had but one house, which 
stood on the southern slope of the hill, on the north- 
ern side of Spring Street, between Third and Fourth 
streets, and facing to the south. 2 Where the troops 
landed, on Second Street, was sufficiently remote to 
be out of sight and hearing, — evidently the par- 
ticular aim of the commanding officer. 

They proceeded cautiously, following an old 
farm road around the northeasterly slope of the 
hill, sometimes wading in the marshes that bor- 
dered Willis Creek, and fording that stream, waist 
deep, in the vicinity of Bullard's Bridge. 

Smith evidently thought that the noise of his 
soldiers tramping across the bridge itself might 
attract attention. His soldiers found the ford a 
long one, and the waters deep. 3 

Even thus early on the expedition was the British 
Army betrayed by one of its own soldiers, if the 

1 A British Officer in Boston in 1775 (see Atlantic Monthly, April, 1877). In 
his Diary he places the time of starting at 2 o'clock, and De Bernicre, in his report, 
at about 2 o'clock, but I am compelled to compute it as about I o'clock, consider- 
ing the distance they had to march and the well-known time they arrived at 
Lexington Common, namely, almost eleven miles, and reaching there a little 
before 5 o'clock. 

J E. C. Booth, in the Somerville Journal, April, 1875- 

* Diary of a British Officer in Boston in 1775- 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 49 

tradition handed down by a Mrs. Moore can be 
relied upon. Seventy-five years or more ago she 
related to Rev. J. L. Sibley, who has stated accord- 
ingly, that she was then living in Cambridge, a young 
girl, and that one of the soldiers was taken sick after 
his landing at Lechmere Point, and was therefore 
permitted by his commander to return by boat to 
Boston. He did not immediately return, however, 
but made his way to the solitary farmhouse where 
Mrs. Moore was living. The occupants gained from 
him the significance of his midnight presence, and 
it was considered of sufficient importance to com- 
municate speedily to their fellow townsmen. 

Bullard's Bridge crossed Willis Creek near the 
present Prospect Street, which runs from Cambridge 
to Somerville. 1 Later on the Creek was called 
Miller's River. It was then a little tributary to 
the Charles River, but has long since been filled in, 
and modest dwellings and more pretentious business 
establishments now cover its upper area. 

Lieutenant Colonel Smith's Advance through 
Somerville. 
The invading army emerging from Willis Creek 
were now in Somerville. They quickly arrived at 
Piper's Tavern, then standing in what is now Union 
Square. It was after 2 o'clock, but the moon was 
shining sufficiently bright for some of the soldiers 

1 The interested reader should consult the map of Boston and vicinity by 
J. F. W. Des Barres, first published May 5, 1775, and reprinted in Shattuck's 
History of Boston; and the one by Henry Pelham, first published in London June 
2i I777i and reprinted in the Siege and Evacuation of Boston. A study of them 
will enable one to more fully understand the topography of the country about 
Boston at that time. 



50 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

to read aloud the sign, which an awakened inmate 
heard. Up the present Bow Street they marched, 
passing the Choate and Frost houses, continuing 
along the present Somerville Avenue to Jonathan 
Ireland's house, at the southwest corner of the 
present School Street. None of the inhabitants 
just along there seem to have been disturbed. A 
few rods farther lived Samuel Tufts, on the westerly- 
side of the road near the present Laurel Street. He 
was casting bullets in a little hut back of his dwell- 
ing, assisted by his negro, but neither of them heard 
the tread of soldiers in the road. But yet a little 
farther along, however, at the northwest corner of 
the present Central Street, lived the Widow Rand. 
She was disturbed by the unusual noise in the road, 
and came down stairs in her nightclothes to investi- 
gate. A hog had been killed for her the day before, 
and she feared a midnight thief. Upon opening the 
door she saw the soldiers, but hid behind the rain- 
water hogshead until they had passed, and then 
hurried across the road to tell her neighbor Tufts of 
the unusual sight. At first he could not believe the 
story, but with his lantern's aid saw the many foot- 
prints in the road, and became convinced. Spring- 
ing to his horse's back he took a short-cut bridle 
path to Cambridge, there to spread the alarm. 

Then marched the column by Samuel Kent's 
house on the westerly side of the road, at the corner 
of the present Garden Court. Kent did not awake. 
Then by the Capen house, a little farther on the 
easterly side. No one there awakened. Then by 
the Hunnewell brothers on the easterly side at the 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- S 1 

turn of the road. They were both somewhat deaf 
and did not hear the military tread. 

The next house is the home of Timothy Tufts, on 
the easterly side of the road, nearly opposite Beech 
Street. Mrs. Tufts heard the soldiers, and saw 
from her bed the gun barrels shining in the moon- 
light. She awakened her husband, and they both 
looked out upon that red-coated column as it halted 
long enough for some of the soldiers to drink at the 
well. 

Lieutenant Colonel Smith's Advance through 
Cambridge. 

The march was again resumed a few rods farther 
along the Milk Row Road, then wheeled to the left, 
southwesterly, into Cambridge through what is now 
Beech Street, less than an eighth of a mile in length, 
then wheeled to the right into the Lexington and 
Concord road, toward the northwest. 1 They were 
then on what is now known as Massachusetts 
Avenue. 

Along this part of Battle Road in Cambridge were 
perhaps captured the first prisoners, Thomas Robins 
and David Harrington, both of Lexington. Robins 
was carrying milk to Boston in company with Har- 
rington when they reached the vicinity of Menotomy 
River, the present dividing line between Cambridge 
and Arlington. They were detained and compelled 
to return to Lexington with the soldiers, and released 
at the commencement of hostilities on the Common. 2 

1 E. C. Booth in the Somerville Journal, April, 1875. 

1 Francis H. Brown, M.D., in Lexington Historical Society, Proceedings, Vol. 
Ill, page 101. 



52 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 177$. 



Lieutenant Colonel Smith's Advance through 
Arlington. 

Just after crossing the Menotomy River into 
Arlington they passed a house where lived the 
venerable Samuel Whittemore with his sons and 
grandchildren. Silent as was the march intended 
to be, it awoke the inmates, and preparations for 
the day commenced. 

The troops soon arrived opposite to the Black 
Horse Tavern, kept by Mr. Wetherby. Thus far 
their march had not been heralded other than by 
the flashing lights and fleet and silent messengers. 
Lieutenant Colonel Smith still thought his little 
army unnoticed, for he rode a little way beyond the 
Tavern, halted his troops, and sent back an officer 
with a file of men to surround and guard the house 
while others should search the interior for members 
of the Rebel Congress whom he thought to be within. 
His surmise was correct, to some extent, for three 
members were there, who, just awakened by the 
heavy tread, heard the low-voiced commands to 
halt. 

The day before, April 18, the Committee of 
Safety and the Committee of Supplies had held a 
joint meeting at the Tavern, and there were present 
Col. Azor Orne, Col. Joseph Palmer, Col. William 
Heath, Col. Thomas Gardner, Richard Devens, Abra- 
ham Watson, Capt. Benjamin White, and John 
Pigeon, of the Committee of Safety, and David 
Cheever, Elbridge Gerry, Col. Charles Lee, and 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775. 53 

Col. Benjamin Lincoln, of the Committee of Sup- 
plies. At the close of the meeting most of them, 
being near enough, had departed for their homes. 
It will be remembered that Richard Devens of 
Charlestown departed early enough to meet Revere 
on the Charlestown shore, and acquaint him with 
the movement of the ten British officers riding up 
the road. It will also be recalled that Elbridge 
Gerry had sent from here a messenger to John 
Hancock at Lexington to the same effect. 

However, there were three members of the two 
committees who chose to remain at the Black Horse 
Tavern that night. They were Col. Azor Orne, 
Elbridge Gerry, and Col. Charles Lee. 

It was not quite 3 o'clock when the slumbers of 
these three men were disturbed by the unusual 
noise in the road, and they went to the windows 
and looked out into the moonlight and down on 
the marching host and its gleaming arms. They 
watched with eager curiosity. Not for a moment 
did they connect themselves individually with the 
movement, but when they heard the command to 
halt, and saw a file of soldiers leave the ranks for the 
Tavern, they were startled, and then it suddenly 
occurred to them that possibly they were the ob- 
jects of those military manoeuvres. They hurried 
down stairs, even clad in their nightclothes as they 
were, and finally sought a safe exit at the rear. It 
is said that Mr. Gerry, in his nervous haste to escape, 
was on the point of opening the front door and 
rushing out that way, but was prevented by the cry 
of the landlord: "For God's sake, don't open that 



54 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

door!" who then conducted the three to the back 
part of the house, and headed them for a field of 
corn stubble. Elbridge Gerry stumbled and fell, 
and cried out to his friend, "Stop, Orne, for me, till 
I can get up. I have hurt myself." 

His position, flat on the ground, out of sight 
because of the corn stubble, suggested that it would 
be a good hiding place for all, so the three lay prone 
on the ground until the King's troops passed on. 
They returned to the Tavern finally to find that 
the house had indeed been searched for them, very 
ineffectively, for even their personal effects, includ- 
ing Mr. Gerry's gold watch left ticking under his 
pillow, had not been disturbed. The search by the 
soldiers had not been a very thorough one. 

Colonel Lee never recovered from the ill effect 
of his exposure on the damp ground in the night 
air, too thinly clad as he was, for he died within a 
month. 1 

The march of the British forces under Lieutenant 
Colonel Smith up to this point was a little over five 
miles, and it was nearly 3 o'clock. He continued 
serenely a little farther, for unknown to him the 
inmates of many houses that he passed were aroused 
by the measured tread of his men. 

Solomon Bowman, lieutenant in Capt. Benjamin 
Locke's company of Minute Men, lived in Menot- 
omy, now Arlington. 2 He came to the door to 
witness the unusual sight. A soldier, perceiving 

1 Samuel A. Smith's Address at West Cambridge, page 17. 

2 House still standing on the northerly side of Massachusetts Avenue, numbered 
417, nearly opposite Whittemore Street. Arlington Past and Present, Parker, 
page 141. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 55 

him, left the ranks and asked for a drink of water. 
Bowman refused the request, but asked him, "What 
are you out at this time of night for?" 

The reply of the thirsty soldier was not recorded, 
but whatever it was Bowman readily drew his own 
conclusions, and when the column disappeared up 
the road hastened to call out members of his com- 
pany. They formed at daybreak on the Common. 1 

But at the house across the road, with its chimneys 
painted white, the reception was more gracious. A 
Tory lived there, and white chimneys, it has been 
said, indicated the owner's politics. 2 

The column halted again briefly in the center of 
the town, and Lieutenant Colonel Smith despatched 
six companies of light infantry under Major Pitcairn 
for the purpose of earlier securing the two bridges 
on the roads just beyond Concord village. 3 Scarcely 
had he done so when signal guns and alarm bells 
were heard, which indicated a general awakening to 
arms of the Provincials. Smith realized the full 
meaning of those ominous sounds, and from there, 
in Arlington village, promptly sent back to General 
Gage for reinforcements. Fortunate for him that 
he did so, for otherwise the day's climax for his 
force would have been even more disastrous than it 
was. 

His marching soldiers could now hardly expect 
to pass any house unseen. A party of young men 
playing cards even at that late hour in an old shop 

1 Statement of Mrs. Hill, daughter of Bowman, in Smith's Address, page 18. 

2 Smith, page 18. 

8 Lieutenant Colonel Smith's Report. 



56 THE BATTLE OF APRIL I9, 1775- 

that stood near the road lost their interest in the 
game and gave it up. 1 

At the Tufts Tavern, still standing on the easterly- 
side of Massachusetts Avenue, nearly opposite Mt. 
Vernon Street, the soldiers halted, and some of 
them proceeded toward Mr. Tufts's barn. He was 
awake and saw them, and suspected that their 
mission might be the confiscation of his favorite 
white horse. He called for his gun, but his prudent 
wife informed him that it had been loaned. Opening 
the door, however, he addressed a British officer, 
saying, "You are taking an early ride, sir!" 

"You had better go to bed and get your sleep 
while you can," replied the officer, significantly. 2 

At the corner of the main road and the one lead- 
ing to Winchester, now Forest Street, "At the Foot 
of the Rocks," lived a shoemaker. A light glim- 
mering through the shutters caught the attention 
of an officer, who sent a soldier to investigate its 
cause so late in the night. The good wife replied 
that her "old man" was sick and she was "making 
some herb tea." That excuse satisfied the officer, 
for the family was left undisturbed. The "tea" 
was in fact melted pewter plates being run into 
bullets. When the rap first came at the door the 
old man took to his bed, and his wife emptied the 
molten pewter into the ashes, where it was readily 
found after the soldiers had passed on. 3 It is 

1 A. R. Proctor, who heard it from William Hill and told it to Mr. Smith. The 
shop stood in front of the residence occupied by James Schouler in 1864. Smith's 
West Cambridge Address, page 19. 

1 Mrs. Almira T. Whittemore in Parker's Arlington, pages 194 195. 

' Mrs. Henry Whittemore's Statement, Smith's West Cambridge Address, 
page 20. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- S7 

probable that ere night some of the leaden tea had 
hardened into leaden fruit, and was used for other 
than medicinal purposes. 

In the next house, still standing (1921) and num- 
bered 1 193 Massachusetts Avenue, lived Capt. 
Benjamin Locke. He looked out and saw the 
marching Red Coats, and knew what their mission 
was. He lost no time in arousing such of his com- 
mand as lived in that neighborhood. 

The British continued along the main road, which 
at that time ran up the hill westerly from Captain 
Locke's home, and is now called Appleton Street, into 
Paul Revere Road, and out again into the present 
Massachusetts Avenue. At that time there was no 
highway between the extreme ends of these two. 

Through the rest of Arlington the march was 
uneventful, save the capture of the scouts sent out 
from Lexington, who were so neatly ambushed and 
taken. As we have seen, they were permitted to 
come down the road passing a few soldiers who were 
out in advance, and who secreted themselves when 
an approaching horseman was heard. After the 
unfortunate scout had passed into the stretch of 
road bounded by the advance guard and the main 
body he was not permitted to return to Lexington. 

Two men from Woburn, Asahel Porter and Josiah 
Richardson, were thus captured. It has been 
stated that they were on their way to the Boston 
market. If they lived in that part of Woburn 
which adjoins Lexington, then their natural journey 
would have been into Lexington, and thence through 
Arlington and Cambridge. But it may be that they 



58 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775. 

were scouting simply, for they were on horseback, 
and therefore without any apparent market business. 
They were compelled to dismount, their horses 
taken, and then forced to walk along as prisoners. 
Reaching the Common in Lexington they were both 
released by their kindly disposed guard, with the 
particular understanding that they were to walk, 
not run, away. Richardson accepted those condi- 
tions, carried them out and so escaped. But Porter, 
once over Rufus Merriam's garden wall, twenty 
rods away from his captors, started into a run. 
Some other soldier than his guard saw him, and 
evidently thinking that a prisoner was escaping, 
promptly shot him through the body. Those cap- 
tures were probably made in Arlington, and not far 
from the Lexington boundary line. 



Lieutenant Colonel Smith's Advance into 
Lexington. 

It must have been just over the line into Lexing- 
ton that the young man, Simon Winship, was met. 
He was on horseback, unarmed, and passing along 
in a peaceable manner, when he was halted and 
ordered to dismount. He questioned their right to 
treat him in that manner, but for answer they forced 
him from his horse and compelled him to march on 
foot in their midst. They asked him if he had been 
out warning the Minute Men, to which he replied 
that he had not, but that he was returning home to 
his father's. He was kept as a prisoner until they 
arrived at Lexington Common, two and one-half 



1 




^° mmon - *• Meeting House. 3. Belfry. 4. Marrett Munroe. S - Emerson. 6. Buckman Tavern. 7. Harrington. 8. Rev. Jonas Clarke. 
9- Mernam. laLonng. u. Mead. 12. Mulliken. 13. Bond. 14. Munroe Tavern. 15. Sanderson. 16. Mason. 17 (two). Percy's Cannon. 
18. Ueutenant-Colonel Smith, wounded; where Major Pitcairn lost his horse, pistols, etc. 19. Haywood mortally wounded, Briton killed in 
duel. 2a Wellington. Erst armed American, taken prisoner. 21. Home of Captain Parker. 22. Where the British sword and bullet were 



\ 



ar 



i 




William Diamond's Drum. 
Now in possession of the Lexington Historical Society. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 59 

miles, where he was compelled to witness the shoot- 
ing of his fellow townsmen. 

Half a mile farther along, and about two miles 
from Lexington Common, Benjamin Wellington, one 
of Captain Parker's company of Minute Men, was 
captured. This took place very nearly at the corner 
of Massachusetts Avenue and Pleasant Street. 
Wellington was armed and on his way from home 
on Pleasant Street to join his company. Thus it is 
claimed, and rightly, that he was the first belligerent 
or armed man captured by the British. But for 
some reason he was allowed to depart, not toward 
the Common, but for home. His gun was not re- 
turned to him, however. He started toward home, 
but when out of their sight turned and passed north- 
erly along the crest of the hills, parallel to the 
highway, and reached the Common just after Capt. 
Thaddeus Bowman, but ahead of the British. 

The Opening Battle on Lexington Common. 

The six companies of light infantry under com- 
mand of Major Pitcairn were now considerably in 
advance of the main body under Smith, and up the 
road somewhat farther than the present high school 
building, even farther along than where the Woburn 
Road, now Woburn Street, turns off to the eastward. 
When still nearer Lexington Common, within about 
one hundred rods of it, they heard the beating of a 
drum by William Diamond, drummer in Captain 
Parker's company. It was the summons for that 
little band to assemble across the pathway of an 



60 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775. 

invading army. Major Pitcairn accepted it as a 
challenge, and promptly ordered his soldiers to halt 
and load their muskets, 1 and then to march on the 
double quick for Lexington Common. 2 

Capt. John Parker's company numbered, all told, 
144 men, jy of whom answered to the call at day- 
break, April 19. It will be remembered that Paul 
Revere did not reach Lexington with his message of 
alarm until midnight. Many of the Minute Men 
lived too remote to be so quickly summoned. Cap- 
tain Parker's home was over two miles away, in the 
southwesterly part of the town, near the Waltham 
line. He was called at about I o'clock, 3 and stood 
on the Common before 2 o'clock with such of his 
men as had then assembled. We have seen how 
they answered the roll call and then dispersed to be 
within call of the drum, as the night was chilly. 
Those who lived near went home, and those who 
lived too far away to quickly go and come repaired 
to Buckman's Tavern, close at hand. 

Captain Parker has been described by his grand- 
son, Theodore Parker, the celebrated Unitarian 
preacher, as being "a great, tall man, with a large 
head, and a high, wide brow." His great grand- 
daughter, Elizabeth S. Parker, has described him as 
stout, large-framed, medium height, like Rev. 
Theodore Parker, but with a longer face. 4 We can 

1 Deposition of Wm. Munroe, who states that he saw about 200 cartridge ends 
dropped by the soldiers when loading. 

2 Deposition of William Munroe, reciting a statement to him by a British 
prisoner. 

* Deposition of Capt. John Parker. 

* Article by Elizabeth S. Parker in Lexington Historical Society, Proceedings, 
Vol. I, page 47. 



NAMES OF THE SEVENTY-SEVEN MEN 
OF CAPTAIN JOHN PARKER'S COMPANY 

Who were in the early morning engagement on 
Lexington Common, April 10, iyjS 



Captain JOHN PARKER 
Lieutenant WILLIAM TIDD 
Ensign ROBERT MUNROE, killed 
Ensign JOSEPH SIMONDS 
Clerk DANIEL HARRINGTON 
Orderly Sergt. WILLIAM MUNROE 



OFFICERS 

Corporal JOEL VILES 
Corporal SAMUEL SANDERSON 
Corporal JOHN MUNROE 
Corporal EBENEZER PARKER 
Drummer WILLIAM DIAMOND 
Fi/er JONATHAN HARRINGTON 



PRIVATES 



EBENEZER BOWMAN 

JOHN BRIDGE, JR. 

JAMES BROWN 

JOHN BROWN, KILLED 

SOLOMON BROWN 

JOHN CHANDLER 

JOHN CHANDLER, JR. 

JOSEPH COMEE, wounded 

ROBERT DOUGLASS, OF CAPTAIN 
belknap's woburn company, en- 
listed in captain Parker's com- 
pany, APRIL iq 

ISAAC DURANT 

PRINCE ESTABROOK, colored, 
wounded 

NATHANIEL FARMER, wounded 

ISAAC GREEN 

WILLIAM GRIMES 

CALEB HARRINGTON, killed 

JOHN HARRINGTON 

JONATHAN HARRINGTON, "jR.." 
killed (son of henry, but known 
as a "junior" at that time) 



MOSES HARRINGTON, 3RD. 

MOSES HARRINGTON, JR. 

THADDEUS HARRINGTON 

THOMAS HARRINGTON 

ISAAC HASTINGS 

SAMUEL HASTINGS 

SAMUEL HADLEY, KILLED 

THOMAS HADLEY, JR. 

JOHN HOSMER 

MICAH HAGAR 

AMOS LOCK 

BENJAMIN LOCK 

EBENEZER LOCK 

REUBEN LOCK 

ABNER MEAD 

EBENEZER MUNROE, JR. (son OF 
JONAS, BUT KNOWN AS A "JUNIOR" 
AT THAT TIME), WOUNDED 

JEDEDIAH MUNROE, WOUNDED 

JOHN MUNROE, JR. 

NATHAN MUNROE 

WILLIAM MUNROE, 3RD. 

NATHANIEL MULLIKEN 



ISAAC MUZZY, KILLED 

JOHN MUZZY 

JONAS PARKER, killed 

JONAS PARKER, JR. 

NATHANIEL PARKHURST 

SOLOMON PIERCE, wounded 

ASAHEL PORTER, KILLED. UNARMED. 

(had been taken prisoner, released, 
but shot as he was running away) 

JOSHUA REED 

JOSHUA REED, JR. 

NATHAN REED 

JOHN ROBBINS, WOUNDED 

PHILLIP RUSSELL 

BENJAMIN SAMPSON 

JOSHUA SIMONDS 



JOHN SMITH 

PHINEAS SMITH 

SIMEON SNOW 

PHINEAS STEARNS 

JONAS STONE, JR. 

JOHN TIDD, WOUNDED 

SAMUEL TIDD 

JOSEPH UNDERWOOD 

BENJAMIN WELLINGTON 

ENOCH WELLINGTON 

JOHN WINSHIP 

THOMAS WINSHIP, WOUNDED 

SYLVANUS WOOD, OF CAPTAIN walker's 
WOBURN COMPANY. ENLISTED IN CAP- 
TAIN Parker's company, april iq 

JAMES WYMAN 



77 in all not counting Porter, who was not in line 

NAMES OF THE EIGHT MEN OF CAPTAIN 
JOHN PARKER'S COMPANY 

Who returned the British Fire in the early morning 
engagement on Lexington Common 



Lieutenant WILLIAM TIDD 

Corporal JOHN MUNROE 

SOLOMON BROWN 

EBENEZER LOCK 

EBENEZER MUNROE, wounded (son 

OF JONAS. BUT KNOWN AS A "JUNIOR -- 
AT THAT TIME) 



NATHAN MUNROE 
JONAS PARKER, killed 
BENJAMIN SAMPSON 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775. 



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62 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 177$. 

imagine him as a serious and prudent man, with a 
quiet, yet firm courage. 

Two men from Woburn had just arrived, and it 
was then a little before 5 o'clock. They were 
Sylvanus Wood and Robert Douglass. They had 
come about three miles, having heard the ringing of 
the bell in the Old Belfry, which stood near the 
church on the Common. As Wood came up he 
approached Captain Parker and inquired the news. 
Parker replied that he did not know what to believe, 
for half an hour before a messenger had returned 
with the assurance that no British were on the way. 
While talking, another messenger, Capt. Thaddeus 
Bowman, rode up with the startling announcement 
that the British were within half a mile. They were 
nearer than that — not even down the road as far 
as Woburn Street. 

Captain Parker then ordered his drummer, Wil- 
liam Diamond, 1 to beat to arms. The Minute Men 
assembled from their homes and from the Buckman 
Tavern. They were but few, so few, indeed, that he 
turned to Wood and begged him to join their ranks. 
Wood consented. Parker asked him if his young 
companion, meaning Robert Douglass, would also 
join. And Douglass also enlisted into Captain 
Parker's company. These two were indeed brave, 
for the danger was really then and there. 

1 "William Diamond. Died July 29, 1828. Aged 73." Inscription on his 
gravestone in Peterboro, N. H. See article in the Boston Globe, Sept. 23, 1903, 
speaking of him at length as the drummer in Captain Parker's company. See 
also the deposition of Sylvanus Wood who called him William Dimon. See also 
list of Captain Parker's company in Boutwell's Oration at Acton. His drum is 
now (1921) in possession of the Lexington Historical Society, and may be seen 
by the interested visitor at the Hancock-Clarke House. 




Old Belfry on Lexington Common. 
Destroyed by a gale in 1900. A replica now standing near the Common. 




Bowlder marking line of the Lexington Minute Men. 




Sergt. William Munroe. 



Fifer Jonathan Harrincton. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL I9, 1775- 63 

The Minute Men gathered around their captain 
in the middle of the road, about half way between 
the meeting house and the Tavern. The meeting 
house then stood where the heroic statue of a Minute 
Man in bronze now stands. The Tavern is still 
standing (1921). 

Parker then said: "Every man of you who is 
equipped, follow me; and those of you who are not 
equipped, go into the meeting house and furnish 
yourselves from the magazine, and immediately join 
the company." 1 Joseph Comee, Caleb Harrington, 
and Joshua Simonds then went into the meeting 
house to comply with the Captain's command. 

Then Parker led those who were equipped to 
the northerly end of the Common, where they 
formed in single line. Sylvanus Wood stepped 
from the ranks long enough to count them, and 
has left his sworn statement that there were 
thirty-eight, "and no more," 1 meaning in that 
first line formed. 

In the brief moments which followed others were 
hastening to join the ranks, and as they arrived 
Orderly Sergt. William Munroe attempted to form 
them into a second line, and partially succeeded. 2 
Even later still a few more reached the Common, 
and were back to the British as they wheeled grandly 
around the easterly end of the meeting house and at 
last stood on Lexington Common. 3 Captain Parker's 
entire force then numbered J7 men, ununiformed, 

1 Deposition of Sylvanus Wood. 
' Deposition of William Munroe. 

' Depositions of Nathaniel Parkhurst and thirteen others, and of Nathaniel 
Mulliken and thirty-three others. 



64 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

scantily armed, poorly disciplined, pitifully few as 
compared with the 400 of the British. 

It is no wonder that one Minute Man exclaimed: 
"There are so few of us it is folly to stand here." 

Captain Parker heard the remark, and answered, 
"The first man who offers to run shall be shotdown." 1 

On came the British, almost on the run, 2 the light 
companies of the 10th Regiment in advance. 3 At 
their head rode Maj. John Pitcairn and two other 
mounted officers. 4 

"Stand your ground!" exclaimed Parker; "don't 
fire unless fired upon. But if they want to have a 
war let it begin here!" 6 

Major Pitcairn galloped up to within six rods of 
Captain Parker's foremost line, and exclaimed: "Lay 
down your arms, you damned rebels, and disperse." 

Captain Parker, seeing the utter hopelessness of 
armed resistance, gave the order to disperse and not 
to fire. 6 He did not, however, order his men to lay 
down their arms. Evidently Pitcairn wished to 
disarm them, for while they were dispersing he 
shouted again: "Damn you, why don't you lay 
down your arms? " 7 

1 Depositions of Robert Douglass and of Joseph Underwood. 

2 Deposition of William Draper. 

8 Historical Memoirs of the 5 2d Regiment copied in Evelyn's Memoirs, pages 
56, 57- 

4 Depositions of Thomas Fessenden and of John Robbins. 

6 When this scene was re-enacted in 1822, William Munroe, orderly sergeant 
under Parker that morning, repeated the words of Captain Parker as above 
quoted, and added: "Them are the very words that Captain Parker said." Re- 
port of the Committee on Historical Monuments and Tablets, 1 884. Paul Revere 
heard Captain Parker say: "Let the troops pass by and don't molest them without 
they begin first." See Revere's Narrative. 

• Deposition of Capt. John Parker. 

' Rev. Jonas Clarke. 




w 

iiiiiaii 



mi 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775. 65 

But no answer came back, and each one of Captain 
Parker's little band retiring from the field carried his 
gun with him. 

Then one of the other mounted officers, about two 
rods behind Pitcairn, name unknown, brandished his 
sword and the Regulars huzzaed in unison. He then 
pointed his pistol toward the Minute Men and fired. 1 

Pitcairn was back to that officer, so did not see 
him fire. He heard the discharge, and easily might 
have mistaken it as coming from an enemy, for he 
had not authorized it himself. 2 Furious with pas- 
sion he gave the order: "Fire!" 

There was hesitation to obey from his men, for 
he repeated: "Fire, damn you, fire!" 3 

The first platoon of eight or nine men then fired, 
evidently over the heads of the Minute Men, for 
none were killed or wounded. 4 Pitcairn saw the 
effects of that volley and realized that his men did 
not aim to kill. Then came his next order: "G — d 
d — n you, fire at them!" 5 

The second volley surely was fired to kill. 

John Munroe, one of the Minute Men in line 

1 Deposition of Thomas Fessenden. 

2 The English contention is that the Americans fired first. See letter of W. S. 
Evelyn, who was with Percy; De Bernicre's Account, and Lieutenant Colonel 
Smith's Report. It seems to me of but little moment as to who fired first. The 
council of war, convened by General Gage, April 18, wherein it was determined 
to march out and destroy the public stores of Massachusetts, was the first real 
hostile act, and could only lead to war. Major Pitcairn has denied that he au- 
thorized that first shot. I believe him to have been gruff and profane, but honest, 
brave, and faithful to his King. He died from wounds received in the Battle of 
Bunker Hill. 

8 Depositions of William Draper, of William Munroe, of Simon Winship, of 
John Munroe, and of John Bateman, a British soldier. 
* Deposition of William Wood. 
1 Manuscript Narrative of Levi Harrington, a youthful spectator. 



66 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

thought that the first volley was nothing but pow- 
der, and so remarked to Ebenezer Munroe, who 
stood next to him. But as the second volley came 
quickly and with fatal effect the latter answered 
that something more than powder was being used, 
for he had received a wound in his arm, and, he 
added, "I'll give them the guts of my gun." 1 

These two Munroes then deliberately fired at the 
British, though the smoke from the latter's guns 
prevented a deliberate and careful aim. 1 John 
Munroe, after retreating about ten rods, loaded a 
second time, with two balls, and fired, but the 
charge was too heavy, and he lost about a foot from 
the muzzle end of his gun. 2 

Jonas Parker, cousin to the Captain, was mortally 
wounded through the body 3 from the second volley, 
but having sufficient strength fired in return. He 
had but just uttered his determination not to run, 
and had placed his hat on the ground at his feet, 
and in it put his bullets and extra flints. The 
British bullet in his body caused him to sink to his 
knees, but he heroically endeavored to reload. He 
could not before the advancing enemy were upon 
him, and one of them ended his sufferings with a 
bayonet thrust. 4 His death was especially heroic 
and spectacular, as his company had retired, leaving 
him alone to face the invaders. 

Jonathan Harrington, Jr., was mortally wounded, 
but staggered toward his home, on the northerly end 

1 Deposition of John Munroe. 

s Manuscript Narrative of Levi Harrington, and deposition of John Munroe. 

8 Manuscript Narrative of Levi Harrington. 

4 Deposition of William Munroe. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL I9, IJ7$. 6j 

of the Common. He fell before reaching there, 
struggled to his feet again, and staggered almost to 
his own door, where he expired, just as his wife 
rushed to meet him. He fell near the barn, then 
standing in what is now Bedford Street. 1 

Ensign Robert Munroe was killed while attempting 
to escape. He was just at the edge of the Common, 
by the wall at Merriam's barn. 1 His daughter Anna, 
wife of Daniel Harrington, who lived at the northerly 
end of the Common, must have seen the tragedy, as 
must have also his two sons, Ebenezer and John, and 
his two sons-in-law, Daniel Harrington and Lieuten- 
ant Tidd, all four in line with Captain Parker. 

When Parker directed such of his force as were 
without ammunition to proceed into the meeting 
house near by, and supply themselves from the 
town's stock, as we have written, Joseph Comee, 
Caleb Harrington, and Joshua Simonds entered the 
sacred edifice for that purpose. Simonds succeeded 
in getting down from the upper loft to the first 
balcony two quarter casks of powder, and had re- 
moved the head from one. 2 The opening volley, 
but a few rods away, indicated to him that hostilities 
had commenced. He expected to meet his fate. 
Pointing his gun to the open cask he resolved to 
blow up the meeting house, himself and his enemies 
rather than to have them enter and capture him. 3 
Comee and Harrington attempted to escape, and 
were running from the westerly end of the meeting 
house, when the former was wounded in the arm, 

1 Manuscript Narrative of Levi Harrington. 
1 Phinney's History of the Battle of Lexington. 
8 Deposition of Ebenezer Munroe. 



68 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1 775. 

and the latter shot and instantly killed. 1 Comee 
made his way to the Marrett Munroe house, passed 
through it and out of the back door, and escaped 
over the hill at the rear. 

Then with savage ferocity the British rushed on, 
hunting down the fleeing Minute Men as they at- 
tempted to escape in all directions. A mounted 
officer, supposed to be Pitcairn, pursued Lieut. 
William Tidd up the North Road (now Hancock 
Street) about thirty rods, calling out to him: "Damn 
you, stop, or you are a dead man!" 

Thereupon Tidd leaped over a pair of bars, made 
a stand and discharged his gun at his pursuer, who 
then retreated to the main body. 2 

Solomon Brown was not idle. Though not in line 
with Captain Parker's men, he was an active par- 
ticipant. After their second volley he opened fire 
from the back door of Buckman's Tavern, and 
then, in order to get a better shot, passed through 
to the front door and fired from there. The British 
retaliated with a return volley, and the bullet holes 
in the old building still vouch for it. John Buck- 
man, the landlord, remonstrated with Brown against 
having his house used as a fort, so the latter took 
a new position, lying down behind a neighboring 
stone wall back of the barn, and opened fire again. 3 

1 Manuscript Narrative of Levi Harrington. 

2 Depositions of William Tidd in 1824, and with others, April 25, 1775. 

8 Miss Mary Merriam, ninety years of age in 1887, reported to Edward P. 
Bliss that she had heard her father say (and he was thirteen years old when the 
battle took place) that on that morning some who would not stand up for their 
country believed the British would not fire on them. They were at the Tavern. 
The British fired on them, however, and they promptly retreated to the cellar and 
attic. Edward P. Bliss in Lexington Historical Society, Proceedings, Vol. I, 
page 71. 




Home of Marrett and Nathan Munroe. Opposite the Common in Lexington. 
Still standing. 




Tidd House on North Hancock Street Lexington. Demolished in 1891. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 69 

The British again responded. Their leaden bullets 
spattered against the wall, and from their impact 
little clouds of stone dust like smoke told a witness 
where they struck. 1 Brown's aim was at an officer 
and group of soldiers, and subsequently Abijah 
Harrington saw a pool of blood on the ground 
where they stood. 2 

John Brown and Samuel Hadley were killed on 
the edge of the swamp, a little way to the north of 
the Common. They were retreating, but not be- 
yond the reach of their pursuers' bullets. 3 

Asahel Porter, unarmed, non-combatant, and who 
had been brought up from Menotomy with Josiah 
Richardson as prisoners, was killed a few rods over 
the wall in Buckman's garden, to the eastward of the 
Tavern. He had been liberated with other prisoners, 
and had been cautioned not to run, but walk away. 
After walking a little distance he felt impelled to 
run, and was pursued by a British bullet, with fatal 
effect. Richardson walked away, and safely escaped. 

The work of the British on Lexington Common, 
occupying less than half an hour, was now finished. 
Their casualties were slight, one man of the 10th 
Regiment wounded in the thigh, another in the hand, 
and Major Pitcairn's horse shot in two places. 4 

1 Depositions of William Munroe, Minute Man, and of Elijah Sanderson, spec- 
tator. Also statement of Rufus Merriam, spectator, then in his thirteenth year, 
to Rev. A. B. Muzzey. Young Merriam overheard Buckman's remonstrance. 
Muzzey's Battleof Lexington, page 6. Manuscript Narrative of Levi Harrington. 

2 Manuscript Narrative of Levi Harrington; Deposition of Abijah Harrington. 
' Manuscript Narrative of Levi Harrington, who, however, erroneously names 

them John Parker and Isaac Hadley. 

4 A British Officer in Boston in 1775; De Bernicre's Account; Report of 
Lieutenant Colonel Smith; Statement of a British Prisoner as recited in Ebenezer 
Munroe*6 Deposition. 



70 THE BATTLE OF APRIL I9, 1775- 

The killing of the Minute Men, had, however, 
wrought the rank and file up to a frenzied pitch of 
excitement, so much so that the officers had difficulty 
in forming them into line again. 1 They succeeded 
though. In the meantime the main body under 
Lieutenant Colonel Smith arrived, and when they 
were all in marching order a volley was fired and 
huzzas shouted as an expression of victory, and then 
they proceeded on their way. 2 Just then the sun 
rose on this new field of battle. 3 

Again the fife and drum, at first harsh and loud, 
echoed against the neighboring hills; then fainter 
and fainter, as the troops marched up and over the 
summit of Concord Hill, a mile away. 

And when they were indeed gone, the men and 
women and children of Lexington came forth from 
their hiding places and looked upon the scene. We 
of to-day have never seen our Common as they saw 
it — its turf torn by horses' hoofs, and clotted here 
and there with human blood; prostrate figures of 
men, some with faces upward to the sky, others 
with theirs smothered helplessly in the dust. One 
might almost think they were asleep. 

Such was the fulfilment of their solemn pledge, that 
they stood ready to sacrifice "everything dear in life, 
yea, and life itself, in support of the common cause."* 

Strong and willing arms then bore all of those 
precious dead into the house of God. And we can 

1 A British Officer in Boston in 1775. 

2 Rev. Jonas Clarke, an eyewitnejs of this incident. 

' At. 5.19 a.m. Astronomical Diary and Almanack for 1775, by Nathaniel 
Low. 

* From a patriotic resolution passed in town meeting in December, 1773. 
Hudson's History of Lexington, first edition, page 102. 



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Capt. John Parker's Deposition. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 71 

imagine as they came forth that their faces were 
turned toward Concord Hill, shining with a patriot's 
full meaning. We can go with them through the 
day, as they join the men of Acton, of Concord, — 
men from all over Middlesex and Essex and Norfolk 
counties, who also stood so ready to defend the 
common cause, yea, even with life itself! 

The dead on or near Lexington Common were 
Jonas Parker, Jonathan Harrington, Jr., Ensign 
Robert Munroe, Isaac Muzzy, John Brown, Samuel 
Hadley, Caleb Harrington, and Asahel Porter. The 
wounded were John Robbins, whose jaw bone was 
shattered and right arm rendered useless; 1 Solomon 
Pierce; John Tidd, sabre cut on his head by a 
British officer; 2 Joseph Comee, on his arm; 2 Ebenezer 
Munroe, Jr., on his arm; 3 Thomas Winship; Na- 
thaniel Farmer; Prince Estabrook (colored); and 
Jedediah Munroe (who was killed later in the day). 

Hardly had the soldiers of King George reached 
the summit of Concord Hill, a mile away, ere strag- 
glers, wearing the same uniform, were seen coming 
up the road, apparently without fear or guile. 
There were five in all, but as they came singly or in 
twos, were not looked upon as dangerous belliger- 
ents. Joshua Simonds emerging from the meeting 
house captured the first one, took his gun away, and 
gave it to Captain Parker. 4 Deacon Benjamin 

1 His deposition April 24, 1775, and Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the 
Revolutionary War. 

2 Manuscript Narrative of Levi Harrington. 

3 His deposition. 

* This gun descended to his grandson, Rev. Theodore Parker, who gave it to 
the State of Massachusetts. Bradford Smith in Lexington Historical Society 
Proceedings, Vol. II, page 145. 



72 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

Brown captured one. 1 Joshua Reed of Woburn 
captured one, took away his gun and other warlike 
equipments and turned him over to James Reed of 
Burlington, 2 then called Woburn Precinct. Two 
more were taken on or near the Common, and their 
arms, or those of two Britons, at all events, carried 
into Buckman Tavern by Ebenezer Munroe and 
later given to Minute Men who had none of their 
own. 3 

Another prisoner, the sixth, was captured by 
Sylvanus Wood of Woburn, the man who joined 
Captain Parker's company and stood in line to 
receive the first volley as the British marched into 
sight. When they marched away he followed on, 
up over Concord and Fiske Hills. Arriving at a 
turn in the road, beyond the latter, he came unex- 
pectedly upon a soldier who for some good reason 
had dropped out of the ranks. He was seated at 
the roadside, and his gun leaned at rest beyond his 
reach. Wood was a little man, about five feet tall, 
but large in valor, so he demanded the surrender of 
his enemy. Helpless as he was he could only 
comply, and Wood marched him back to Lexington 
Common and placed him in the charge of a Mr. 
Welsh. 4 

This prisoner also was captured in Lexington, at 

1 Deposition of Abijah Harrington. 
8 Deposition of James Reed. 

• Deposition of Ebenezer Munroe. 

* Mt. Vernon Papers by Edward Everett, page 430. Everett, a member of 
Congress in 1826, secured a pension of #96 per year for Wood. Once, when the 
latter was in Washington, he introduced him to President Jackson. See also the 
History of Woburn, by Sewall, who received his information from Wood's son. 
Also see the deposition of Wood. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775. 73 

the bluff near the Bull Tavern, later kept by Mr. 
Viles. It stood not far from the Lincoln line. He 
and four of the others taken on Lexington Common 
were escorted to James Reed's in Burlington by 
Thomas R. Willard, William Munroe, and E. Welsh. 1 

Lieutenant Colonel Smith's Advance through 
Lincoln. 

The march of the British from Lexington Common 
to the Lincoln line, and thence through the town of 
Lincoln and into Concord to Meriam's Corner, a 
distance of a little over five miles, was without un- 
usual incidents. That part of Lincoln through which 
they passed is the edge of the town, and then, as 
now, but sparsely settled. The village of Lincoln 
is considerably to the westward, fortunately, and 
thus most of the inhabitants were too remote for 
insult or more serious trouble. The men of Lincoln, 
however, were not unmindful of the enemy's move- 
ments, as we shall see later on. In the woods that 
bordered the highway the British saw some of 
them, 2 but not in sufficient number, evidently, to 
oppose their advance. 

Lieutenant Colonel Smith's Advance into 
Concord. 

From Meriam's Corner in Concord to the center 
of Concord village is about a mile and a quarter. 
From the Corner, and on the northerly side of the 

1 Deposition of E. Welsh. 

1 Deposition of Lieut. Edward Thornton Gould, a British prisoner. 



74 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

road, commences a line of hills rising fully sixty 
feet, 1 or more above the road, which skirts along 
their edges, and perhaps an eighth of a mile from, 
and parallel to, their summits. The ridge com- 
mands very easily and nicely the road for the entire 
distance, and was looked upon by both sides as a 
desirable place to occupy. Capt. Nathan Barrett 
and his company of Concord militia had occupied 
that part of it near the meeting house from about an 
hour after sunrise, for they had received the intelli- 
gence of the killing of six Americans at Lexington. 2 
Capt. George Minot and his company of Minute 
Men assembled there also. 3 Farther along the 
ridge, toward Meriam's Corner, other Americans 
had taken position, 4 probably as individuals. It was 
about two hours after sunrise when the enemy came 
into sight. 6 

As Lieutenant Colonel Smith came into view of 
this location he saw the body of provincials along 
the ridge, and quickly decided to dislodge them. 
The light infantry were ordered to that work, and 
they succeeded in forcing the Americans back to 
the village. The grenadiers continued along the 
road, driving before them Capt. David Brown's 
company of Concord Minute Men who had marched 
up from the village as far as Meriam's Corner on a 
scouting trip. When the British were seen descend- 
ing from the hills of Lincoln Brown's company halted, 

1 United States Geological Survey, 1886. 

2 Deposition of Capt. Nathan Barrett and fifteen others, all of Concord. 
8 Diary of Rev. William Emerson. 

4 Deposition of Lieut. Edward Thornton Gould, British. 
6 Deposition of Capt. Nathan Barrett and fifteen others. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL I9, 1775- 75 

and when the enemy came within about one hun- 
dred rods wheeled about and marched back to the 
village. The fifes and drums of both forces were 
playing. 1 

On the hill not far from the village stood the 
Liberty Pole, from the summit of which some kind 
of a flag was flying. The British cut it down. 2 

It was between 7 and 8 o'clock when the enemy 
reached Concord village. 3 The march from Lex- 
ington must have been a steady one, without inter- 
ruption. The distance is about six and a quarter 
miles and the elapsed time about two hours. The 
entire distance from Lechmere Point is about seven- 
teen miles, sufficiently long, even thus far, to exhaust 
many of the soldiers. Adding to the length of the 
march, their loss of sleep before starting, and the 
excitement on Lexington Common, it is easy to 
imagine that a few halts for rest were allowed, 
though anxiety to accomplish their errand would 
not permit of unnecessary delays. 

Their advance into Concord village compelled the 
Americans to move along to an adjoining hill just 
to the northward, which they subsequently aban- 
doned and marched still farther along, passing over 
the North Bridge and taking a stronger position on 
Punkatasset Hill whose summit is fully two hundred 
feet 4 higher than Concord River, and perhaps half a 

1 Capt. Amos Barrett's Account, who was present as a member of Brown's 
company. 

1 A British Officer in Boston in 1775. 

' De Bernicre, the British authority who was present, states the time as being 
between 9 and 10 o'clock, but I follow Captain Barrett and fifteen others who 
state, in their deposition, that it was about two hours after sunrise. 

4 United States Geological Survey, 1886. 



j6 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

mile from the Bridge, and rather more than a mile 
from the village itself. It was their third position, 
and then about 8 o'clock in the morning. 1 

Reaching Concord village Lieutenant Colonel 
Smith proceeded at once to carry out the plan of 
his expedition, namely, the destruction of the mili- 
tary stores. Ensign De Bernicre acted as guide to 
where they could be found, for he had been one of 
the spies sent out by General Gage for the express 
purpose of locating them. 

Smith found but few people in the village, for 
the able-bodied men were with their companies, and 
many of the non-combatants had considered other 
places more secure. Some, however, remained, and 
the British officers labored to convince them that no 
bodily harm was intended. 

Pitcairn was especially active in that diplomatic 
work, but insisting all the time that their doors must 
be unlocked that the soldiers might search their 
premises. Many would not submit peaceably to 
such an indignity, and one of those old men of 
Concord had the courage to strike Maj. John Pit- 
cairn in the presence of the King's soldiers. 2 We 
can imagine this incident happened before that 
doughty officer entered Wright Tavern and called 
for liquor, into which he plunged his finger to stir 
the sweetening. Some of the precious fluid slopped 
over, which he likened to the way Yankee blood 
should spill ere nightfall, — a remark possibly in- 
spired by his overwrought feelings at the affront. 

1 Frederic Hudson in Harper's Magazine, May, 1875. 

2 Lieutenant Colonel Smith's Report. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775. 77 

The aged Concord patriot was not punished, how- 
ever. 

Capt. Lawrence Parsons of the ioth Regiment, 
with six light companies, was immediately despatched 
for the North Bridge, distant three-quarters of a 
mile. There he left Capt. Walter Sloane Lawrie of 
the 43 d Regiment with three of the companies for 
guard duty, while he proceeded with the other three 
companies, guided by Ensign De Bernicre, over the 
bridge and up the left bank of the Concord River 
and its northerly branch, the Assabet River, to the 
home of Colonel Barrett, 1 almost two miles from the 
Bridge. 2 

Captain Lawrie, arriving near the Bridge, as- 
signed one company of the 43 d Regiment to the 
Bridge itself, one of the ioth Regiment to a near-by 
hill, and one of the 4th or King's Own Regiment to 
another hill a quarter of a mile farther away, 3 so 
arranged as to be within supporting distance of each 
other. 4 

After the six companies under Parsons had de- 
parted, Lieutenant Colonel Smith sent Captain 
Mundy Pole of the ioth Regiment with a force 
toward the South Bridge, incidentally for guard 
duty there, and in particular to destroy such military 
stores as they might find. 4 The distance from the 
village to the Bridge is almost a mile. 5 They went 

1 De Bernicre and Editor's Note to Diary of a British Officer. 
a lli miles, to be exact. 

! Editor's Note in A British Officer in Boston in 1775, and deposition of Lieut. 
Edward Thornton Gould, British officer present. 
* De Bernicre. 
s II mile, to be exact. 



78 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

a little beyond, to the homes of Amos and Ephraim 
Wood, in the vicinity of Lee's Hill, 1 its older name, 
but now known as Nashawtuck. 

Within the village the British were very active in 
their search for the military supplies. Public 
buildings, stores, and private dwellings were alike 
examined. At the malt house of Ebenezer Hub- 
bard a considerable quantity of flour was discovered, 
and the end boards of the building were pulled off, 
that the barrels might the easier and faster be rolled 
out into the road, where they were broken open and 
the contents mixed with the dust. 2 At the store- 
house of Timothy Wheeler another lot of flour was 
found, which the miller, by a little artifice, saved. 
It was indeed public property, but Wheeler, placing 
his hand upon the bags of meal, one after another, 
and which stood with the flour, assured the soldiers 
that he was a miller, and that they were his. 

They were considerate enough to spare his per- 
sonal property, and included the flour. 3 

At the neighboring grist mill several barrels were 
seized and rolled to or into the mill pond, but part 
was subsequently saved, as it hardly reached the 
water. 4 

Deacon Thomas Barrett, brother of Colonel Bar- 
rett, was a resident of the village. He was an aged 
man, and remained quietly in or near his home 

1 Frederic Hudson, in Harper's Magazine, May, 1875. 

2 Rev. Ezra Ripley. History of the Fight at Concord. 
8 Ripley. 

4 The old mill pond occupied a goodly portion of the land bounded by Lexington 
Road, Heywood, Walden, and Main streets, the northerly corner almost reaching 
Wright Tavern. Subsequently it was filled in, and now stores and dwellings 
occupy its entire area. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 177$. 79 

while the soldiers were busy in looting and destroy- 
ing. He was a man of gentle demeanor and un- 
armed, but they seized him, called him rebel, and 
even threatened to take his life. He pleaded with 
them to dispense with that trouble, for his extreme 
age meant that he should soon die, anyway. They 
permitted him to go in peace. In his building was 
a gun factory carried on by his son, Samuel Barrett. 1 

Battle at North Bridge in Concord. 

In the meantime large numbers of Americans 
were gathering on the hills to the northward beyond 
the river. The commander of the British at the 
North Bridge and vicinity was not unmindful of 
that, and deemed it wise to concentrate his little 
army of three companies at the Bridge itself, as that 
seemed to be the threatened point of attack. Con- 
sequently the two remoter companies were marched 
down from the hills and joined the third, and then 
all three marched to trie easterly or nearer end of 
the Bridge. 

About a quarter of a mile beyond the North 
Bridge, and in a westerly direction from it, is a 
little hill about forty feet higher than the river. 2 To 
reach it by road from the Bridge meant traveling 
over two sides of an irregular triangle, and going 
nearly half a mile. 3 The crest of the elevation 
commands a beautiful view up and down the river, 

» Ripley. 

2 United States Geological Survey, 1886. 

8 The road forming one side of the triangle and leading from the Bridge has 
been discontinued, and now appears only as a part of the river meadow. 



8o THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775. 

with the North Bridge in the middle foreground and 
the village nearly a mile away to the southward. 

The Americans moved forward from Punkatasset 
Hill to this, their fourth position, at about 9 o'clock, 
as their reinforcements had augmented sufficiently 
to induce a growing feeling of aggressiveness. Here 
were assembling the sturdy men of Concord and of 
Acton, of Bedford, Lincoln, and Carlisle, and of other 
neighboring towns. Joseph Hosmer acted as ad- 
jutant, forming the soldiers as they arrived, — the 
minute companies on the right and the militia on 
the left, facing the Bridge. 1 

Col. James Barrett summoned his subordinate 
officers for a council of war, the first one of the 
American Revolution, and while they were so en- 
gaged, Capt. Isaac Davis and his company of 
Minute Men from Acton arrived and marched to a 
position on the left of the line, as they had been 
accustomed to on training days. After halting his 
little command Captain Davis joined his brother 
officers in their council of war. 

There were then assembled on that little hill four 
Concord companies, commanded, respectively, by 
Capt. David Brown, 52 men; Capt. Charles Miles, 
52 men; Capt. George Minot, number of men un- 
known; and Capt. Nathan Barrett, number of men 
also unknown. 2 From Acton there were three com- 
panies, one under Capt. Isaac Davis, 38 men; one 
under Capt. Joseph Robins, number of men un- 

1 Lemuel Shattuck as quoted by Josiah Adams, page 27. 

J See deposition of Captain Barrett and fifteen others in Journals of Each 
Provincial Congress in Massachusetts, page 672. Probably the sixteen were of 
that company. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 8l 

known; and one under Capt. Simon Hunt, 1 number 
of men also unknown. There were two companies 
from Bedford, one being under Capt. John Moore, 
51 men; and the other under Capt. Jonathan Will- 
son, 28 men. A little later Captain Willson was 
killed and his command fell to Lieut. Moses Abbott. 
Lincoln was represented by Capt. William Smith 
with 62 men. 2 

In addition to these regular organized soldiers 
there were many individuals present, exempts and 
others, who undoubtedly took a patriotic part in 
the subsequent events. 

These men looked down on the hostile troops at 
the Bridge, and beyond the river to the village, 
where huge volumes of smoke were rising from the 
bonfires of military stores, which seemed to them to 
be the burning of their homes. Inspired by that 
fear, and by their knowledge of the bloodshed at 
Lexington, they were ready to follow where their 
officers should lead. Their council could only decide 
in one way: "To march into the middle of the town 
for its defence, or die in the attempt." 3 

Colonel Barrett then gave the order to Maj. 
John Buttrick to lead an advance over the Bridge 
and to the center of the town. And his instructions 
were like those of Captain Parker a few hours 
before, — not to fire unless fired upon. 

It was then between 9 and 10 o'clock. 4 Colonel 

1 Statement of Aaron Jones, a member, in Adams's Address, page 21. 

2 Affidavit of Amos Baker, a member. 

• Survivors testified that both Major Buttrick and Captain Davis used these 
words. See Ripley's History of the Concord Fight. 

4 Journal of Capt. David Brown, commander of one of the Concord companies, 
as quoted by Adams, page 32. 



82 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

Barrett retired to the rear on higher ground, 1 and 
Major Buttrick hastened to execute his order. His 
choice for a company to lead was naturally one from 
Concord, but the captain of that one replied that he 
would rather not. 2 We wonder at the reason, for 
Concord seemed to be the most deeply concerned 
just at that hour. However, it could not have been 
for lack of courage, for the Concord companies were 
a part of that advance. Then Buttrick turned to 
Captain Davis, and asked him if he was afraid to go. 
Davis promptly responded, "No, I am not; and 
there isn't a man in my company who is." 3 

He immediately gave the command to march, and 
the men of Acton wheeled from the left of the line to 
the right, and were the first to march upon the 
invaders. 

Maj. John Buttrick of Concord led in person this 
little army down the slope toward the river, but 
not until he had offered the command to a superior 
officer who happened to be present, but without a 
command, — Lieut. Col. John Robinson of Prescott's 
regiment. Robinson lived in Westford and had re- 
sponded to the alarm. Magnanimously he refused 
the honor to lead, but with characteristic bravery 
begged that he might march by Buttrick's side, 
which the latter acceded to. These were the two 
men in front of all the American host to first march 
against the soldiers of their King. 

Then came Capt. Isaac Davis and his company 
of thirty-seven men from Acton. Then next, a Con- 

» Ripley. 

! Deposition of Bradley Stone. 

' Depositions of Bradley Stone and Solomon Smith. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1 775. 83 

cord company under Charles Miles. Then two 
more Concord companies under Capt. David Brown 
and Capt. Nathan Barrett. 1 Another company 
from Acton then fell into line, the one commanded 
by Capt. Simon Hunt. They were just turning the 
corner of the main road when the firing at the 
Bridge took place. 2 By order of Colonel Barrett 
the companies from Bedford and Lincoln next fell 
into line. The march was by twos, and to the tune 
of "The White Cockade," played by two young 
fifers, Luther Blanchard of Davis's Acton company, 
and John Buttrick of Brown's Concord company. 3 

Down the road, now discontinued, they marched 4 
in a southerly direction to the point of the triangle, 
then back toward the Bridge in an easterly direc- 
tion, in all, about a quarter of a mile. The British 
watched the advance keenly, and when the south- 
erly point of the triangle was reached, and the 
columns wheeled to the left toward the Bridge, they 
commenced to pull up the planks. Major Buttrick 
in a loud voice ordered them to desist, whereupon 
they left the Bridge and hastily formed for action in 
the road just beyond the easterly end. Then came 
the report of the first hostile gun in the Battle of 
Concord, fired from the British ranks. Solomon 
Smith, 6 a member of Davis's Acton company, saw 
where the ball struck the river on his right, which 

1 Corp. Amos Barrett of Brown's company indicates Davis's as first and his 
own company as third. The exact order of the other participating companies I 
am unable to give. 

J Statement of Aaron Jones, a member, to Mr. Adams. See Adams's Address, 
page 21. 

* Frederic Hudson. 

4 Doolittle picture. Adams. 1835. Frothingham, 185 1. 

6 Deposition of Solomon Smith. 



84 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1 775. 

then ran nearly parallel to the road. This was 
quickly followed by two others, but they were not 
thought by the Americans to be aimed at them. 

Still onward marched Major Buttrick and hi? 
little band. They soon came nearly to the Bridge, 
when a sudden volley from the British indicated 
their serious intention to check the American ad- 
vance. Luther Blanchard, the fifer from Acton, 
was slightly wounded. 1 

Major Buttrick heard his cry of anguish, and 
almost jumping into the air, exclaimed, "Fire! For 
God's sake, fire!" 

The order was obeyed. The British responded, 
killing Captain Davis and one of his privates, Abner 
Hosmer. Davis, on realizing that Blanchard was 
wounded, had taken a firmer position on a flat 
stepping-stone, and while aiming his gun received 
a bullet through his heart. Hosmer was killed by 
a bullet through his head. 2 Ezekiel Davis, brother 
of the Captain, and a private in his company, was 
wounded, as was also Joshua Brooks of Lincoln, 
whose forehead was slightly cut by a bullet, which 
continued through his hat. 3 

The opening volley of the Americans was also 
effective, killing one private and wounding Lieuten- 
ant Hull of the 43d Regiment; Lieutenant Gould of 
the 4th; Lieutenant Kelly of the ioth; Lieutenant 
Sutherland of the 38th; and a number of the rank 
and file. 

The Americans, under Major Buttrick, advanced, 

1 Deposition of Solomon Smith. 

J Frederic Hudson. 

3 Deposition of Amos Baker. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775. 85 

and the three British companies, under Lawrie, 
gave way and retreated toward Concord village. 
They were met on the road by reinforcements con- 
sisting of two or three companies headed by Lieu- 
tenant Colonel Smith himself, who was responding 
to a very urgent request for assistance from Captain 
Lawrie, sent just before the engagement began. 
Smith being a "very fat, heavy man," according to 
the testimony of one of his officers, who has left an 
interesting diary for our perusal, 1 instead of reach- 
ing Lawrie at the Bridge met him but a little way 
out of the village. 

From the moment of that heroic advance of the 
Americans over the Bridge military discipline 
among them ceased. 2 They rushed after the re- 
treating British but a few rods, then proceeded to 
an eminence on the east side of the road back of 
Elisha Jones's house, taking position there behind 
a stone wall, and perhaps an eighth of a mile from 
where the British halted when they were met by 
their reinforcements. 3 Why the Americans turned 
aside instead of pursuing their enemies into Concord 
village as they had resolved to do can only be sur- 
mised. Why they gave no heed to the small force 

1 A British Officer in Boston in 1775. See also Rev. Mr. Emerson's account 
who speaks of the "marches and counter-marches for half an hour," and their 
"great fickleness and inconstancy of mind." Smith can hardly be blamed for 
nervousness at that moment, with part of his eight hundred men at Colonel 
Barrett's, five hundred Americans between, and another part of his force at the 
South Bridge. 

1 "Our company and most of the others pursued, but in great disorder." 
Deposition of Thomas Thorp of the Acton company. "The loss of our Captain 
was the cause of much of the confusion that followed." Deposition of Solomon 
Smith of the Acton company. 

' Deposition of Solomon Smith. 



86 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 177$. 

still behind them up the river, engaged in destroy- 
ing American property at Colonel Barrett's, ex- 
cites our wonder too. Not lack of personal courage, 
surely, but rather of military experience. 

While these scenes were being enacted at the 
North Bridge the British force above alluded to, 
and consisting of three companies under Captain 
Parsons, had gone up the river to the home of 
Colonel Barrett, nearly two miles from the Bridge. 
They were under the direct guidance of the spy, 
Ensign De Bernicre, who had previously gone over 
the road and made himself familiar with its topogra- 
phy, and particularly with the hiding of military 
stores among the homes along the way. He knew 
thoroughly well of those at Colonel Barrett's, and 
that place above all others was the principal ob- 
jective. 

Early that morning the men in the Barrett family 
had busied themselves in securing the Colonial 
stores. They had plowed a tract of land about thirty 
feet square south of the old barn and later used as a 
kitchen garden. One guided a yoke of oxen in 
turning over the furrows into which others dropped 
the muskets that had been stored in the house. 
Succeeding furrows covered them nicely. Musket 
balls were carried to the attic and put into the 
bottoms of barrels which were then rilled with 
feathers. 1 Other munitions were hidden in the 
adjoining woods. 2 

When the soldiers reached there they found the 

J Margaret Sidney. Old Concord, Her Highways and Byways. 
8 Rev. Mr. Emerson's Narrative. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, iyj$. 87 

homestead in care of the venerable wife of Colonel 
Barrett. Captain Parsons explained his mission, 
and assured her it was his aim to destroy public 
property only, and to capture Colonel Barrett. 1 
They commenced their search, but did not find as 
much as expected. 2 Nor did they capture the 
commander of the Minute Men. 

While this work was in progress, Colonel Barrett's 
son Stephen, a young man of about twenty-five 
years, returned from his mission up the river road 
to Price Plain, to intercept Minute Men expected 
from Stow, Harvard, and other towns in that vicinity. 
He wished to inform them of the danger surrounding 
his own home, that they might travel by some other 
road into Concord. 

Reaching the kitchen door of his own home he 
was met by a British officer, who, thinking he might 
be Colonel Barrett, placed him under arrest. Upon 
learning from Mrs. Barrett, however, of his mistake, 
that he was her son, the young man was released. 3 
Another son, James, Jr., being lame and inactive, 
did not attract any hostile attention. 4 

So successfully had Colonel Barrett and his num- 
erous assistants secreted the large amount of pro- 
vincial property left in his charge that Captain 
Parsons found but little to confiscate or destroy. 
He seized and burned a few gun carriages in the 
road near the house. 5 

1 Sidney. 

2 De Bernicre. 

* Sidney, page 23. 

• Frederic Hudson. The Concord Fight in Harper's New Monthly Magazine. 
May, 1875. 

« Ripley. 



88 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

This was the remotest point of the British in- 
vasion. The three companies at Colonel Barrett's 
had by far the longest route of any, by several 
miles. After a night without sleep and so long a 
march they were hungry and thirsty, and Mrs. Bar- 
rett was requested to supply their wants. She was 
in no position to refuse. Some, if not all, were 
willing to pay for what they had, but the good lady 
refused, saying, "We are commanded to feed our 
enemy if he hunger." 

Some, however, insisted, and on leaving tossed 
their money into her lap. She could only exclaim, 
"It is the price of blood!" 1 

The object of their mission being accomplished so 
far as within their power, they set out for a return 
march to the village by the same roundabout route 
over the North Bridge, as they came. When at 
Widow Brown's Tavern at the cross roads, within 
about a mile of the Bridge, they halted, and three 
or four officers entered the house for drink. The 
soldiers sat at the roadside and drink was carried 
out to them. Pay was offered to Mrs. Brown by the 
officers, but she declined to receive it. Charles 
Handley, a youth in his thirteenth year, and a native 
of Concord, was living there, and has left his sworn 
statement that he then heard the guns at the Bridge, 
but that the British did not appear to notice them. 
It was then generally understood that they knew 
nothing of the engagement until their arrival at the 
scene, and saw the British slain. 2 There were two, 

1 Frederic Hudson. 

2 Charles Handley's deposition. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775. 89 

one having been killed instantly, and the other, at 
first wounded, while helpless was despatched with 
a savage cut in the head with a hatchet. It seems 
that after the British had been driven from the 
Bridge, and the Americans had also passed in pur- 
suit, a young man employed by Rev. William Emer- 
son at the Old Manse (still standing, 1921) came 
forth to view the field of strife. He saw the wounded 
Briton attempting to arise, and in a thoughtless 
moment conceived it his patriotic duty to kill him. 
He did so as the soldier was on his knees in a futile 
attempt to stand. The hatchet sank deep into his 
skull, and the blood gushed forth and covered the 
top of his head as he fell back to Concord battle 
ground. A little later the British force under 
Captain Parsons passed him on their way to the 
village. They could only shudder, and bear away 
the impression, which was subsequently published, 
that the Americans had scalped and cut off the ears 
of their enemies. 1 The young man who did the 
deed lived many years, and often confessed that his 
conscience had been sorely troubled. 2 

The men under Captain Parsons were thus per- 
mitted to join the main body of British, very much 
to their surprise, which was forcibly expressed by 
Ensign De Bernicre in his account of the battle. 3 

1 Deposition of Zechariah Brown and Thomas Davis, Jr., who buried the two 
soldiers in a common grave near where they fell. A memorial stone marks the 
spot. 

2 I have his name, but do not think it best to insert it in this narrative. Re- 
venge was deeply impressed on his mind by the bitterness of public feeling against 
the mother country. He was too young to exercise proper judgment in separating 
the soldier from his King. 

3 See De Bernicre's Account. 



90 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

As we have seen, the main body of the American ( 
halted on the high ground to the eastward of th> 
Elisha Jones house. From that moment to th '; 
arrival of the British at Charlestown Neck no one 
seemed to be in command, and no discipline of any- 
kind was attempted. 

While military critics cannot endorse the kind of 
warfare employed by the Americans on that day, 
almost if not quite of a guerilla nature, yet it must 
be confessed that their death roll was much smaller 
and their success, in some respects, much greater 
than it would have been had they fought as an army, 
in the open, under some brave commander. The 
British, on the other hand, were ever in the highway, 
standing or marching in a solid formation. The 
Americans were never more than a dozen or a score, 
side by side, and usually not more than two or 
three. Their selected position was a sheltered one, 
— behind the walls, among the trees, even within 
the houses. Often the vigilant flank guard, which 
Lieutenant Colonel Smith counted upon so intelli- 
gently, came upon them unawares, and so added to 
the American death roll. Had they known the 
value of the flanking movements, and still fought 
as individuals, as they did from the North Bridge 
to Charlestown Neck, but few would have been 
slain. 

As we have seen, the Americans halted on the 
high ground to the eastward of Elisha Jones's house. 
They felt that when the retreating British were 
reinforced they would return and renew the struggle. 
In their strong position behind the stone wall they 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 91 

had no cause to fear an assault, for the advantage 
would be greatly with them. But Lieutenant Colonel 
Smith also realized as much and turned his troops 
back into Concord village. 

Several of the Minute Men then returned to the 
North Bridge, and conveyed the bodies of Capt. 
Isaac Davis and private Abner Hosmer to the home 
of Major Buttrick, which stood near the spot from 
which they started on their fatal march. 1 Later 
in the day they were conveyed to Acton. 

Such was the baptism of Concord soil with the 
blood of its brave defenders. 

Capt. Mundy Pole of the 10th Regiment with one 
hundred men had been detailed by Lieutenant 
Colonel Smith for guard duty at the South Bridge. 
He was also instructed to destroy any public stores 
that he might find in that vicinity. 

The Bridge is nearly a mile southerly from the 
village, and in an opposite direction from the North 
Bridge, the two being nearly two miles apart. 

Captain Pole reached there about 8 o'clock, and 
promptly placed a guard at the Bridge to prevent 
any one passing into or out of the village. Then 
he foraged the immediate neighborhood for food 
and drink for his force, which was easily accom- 
plished, as most of the able-bodied men were absent 
on patriotic duties. 

They searched the houses of Ephraim Wood, 
Joseph Hosmer, and Amos Wood, but with slight 
success, for most of the stores once there had been 
secreted elsewhere. The Britons demeaned them- 

1 Deposition of Solomon Smith. 



92 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775. 

selves nicely in this neighborhood, and were generous 
enough to pay for what food they took. Each of 
the women at Amos Wood's house was presented 
with a guinea. In this home was one room pretty 
well filled with goods that were sought for. It was 
locked, but the gallant officer, believing that women 
were hiding within, issued orders that none of his 
soldiers should enter it. 

Capt. Mundy Pole's little expedition to this part 
of Concord was not entirely without results, how- 
ever. He succeeded in knocking of! the trunnions 
of three iron twenty-four pounders, burning their 
carriages, destroying a small quantity of flour and 
several barrels of trenchers and wooden spoons. 1 

Some of his soldiers ascended Lee's Hill, now 
called Nashawtuck, about one hundred feet 2 higher 
than and overlooking the river down to North 
Bridge. From there they could plainly see the 
growing excitement, as evidenced by the moving 
about of the Minute Men, and the constant acces- 
sions to their numbers. Finally there came echoing 
up the valley the signal gun, then two more, then 
the volley; and they knew the scene on Lexington 
Common was being re-enacted. 

They descended the hill and gathered with the 
others at the South Bridge, removed the planks 
therefrom to protect their retreat, and marched 
rapidly back to the main body in the village. 3 

Lieutenant Colonel Smith now commenced to 
realize his distance from Boston and the dangers 

1 De Bernicre. 

2 United States Geological Survey, 1886. 
8 Frederic Hudson. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1 775. 93 

that might lurk along the way. He had his entire 
force assembled in Concord village very soon after 
10 o'clock, but his many wounded soldiers required 
attention before he could begin his return march. 
Some of them were attended by Dr. Cumings and 
Dr. Minot of the village. 1 As no provision had 
been made by the British commander for the trans- 
portation of his disabled soldiers, the people of 
Concord were called upon to supply the deficiency. 
A chaise was confiscated from Reuben Brown, and 
another from John Beaton. Bedding from near-by 
houses was added for the comfort of the riders. 
Several horses were taken, among them one belong- 
ing to Captain Smith of the Lincoln Company, 
which he had, for some reason, left at Wright Tavern 
before he marched for North Bridge. Lieutenant 
Hayward of Concord recaptured Reuben Brown's 
chaise from the Regulars in Arlington, and with it a 
horse, bedquilt, pillow, etc., for the owners of which 
he advertised in the Essex Gazette of Aug. io, 1775. 1 
Besides his wounded, Lieutenant Colonel Smith 
had his able-bodied men to consider also. They 
had been without sleep since the time of starting 
from Boston Common, at half past 10 o'clock the 
evening before, and possibly back to the night 
before that. They had already marched over 
seventeen miles to Concord village, and those who 
had gone to Colonel Barrett's and to the North 
and South Bridges, so much farther yet. They 
had passed through the exciting scenes of bloodshed 
at Lexington Common and North Bridge, which 

1 Frederic Hudson. 



94 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

must have added agitated minds to weary bodies. 
His soldiers needed rest and Smith knew it, and was 
justified in granting the two hours that he did. 

Aside from those reasons Smith had another good 
one for not starting at once. It will be remembered 
that when he had reached Arlington (Menotomy), 
realizing his march had aroused the entire com- 
munity, he had sent back an urgent request to 
General Gage for strong reinforcements. He could 
reasonably expect them to reach any place that he 
had, within three hours at least of his time. But 
unfortunately for Smith the forces under Percy had 
not started until 9 o'clock that morning, and were 
then less than five miles on the way, and coming 
over a longer route than he had taken. 1 

The destruction of the public military stores, 
according to the report of Lieutenant Colonel Smith, 
hardly balanced his loss of prestige even, to say 
nothing of the British lives that had been and would 
be given up in the cause. He gives his men credit 
for knocking the trunnions off of three field pieces 
of iron ordnance; destroying by fire some new gun 
carriages and a great number of carriage wheels; 
and throwing into the river considerable flour, some 
powder, musket balls and other small articles. De 
Bernicre in his account adds to the list by mention- 
ing barrels of trenchers and spoons of wood destroyed 
by Captain Pole. 

1 In the Diary of A British Officer in Boston in 1775, who was with Smith in 
the Concord expedition, he writes of the return to Lexington and the expected 
reinforcements: "We had been flatter'd ever since the morning with the expecta- 
tion of the Brigade coming out, but at this time had given up all hope of it, as it 
was so late." 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 95 

While the bonfire was consuming the cannon 
wheels, it was discovered that the Court House, 
facing the Green, was on fire. It was noticed by 
Mrs. Martha Moulton, an elderly widow who lived 
close by and who had not fled with the younger part 
of the population as the enemy approached. She 
felt that her years, seventy-one, would be her pro- 
tection, as indeed they were. She has left an inter- 
esting statement of the events of those few hours, — 
how her home was invaded by the soldiers for food 
and water; how Pitcairn and other officers sat 
before her door, watching the soldiers in their 
destructive work; how she discovered the Court 
House on fire, and how earnestly she pleaded with 
them to put it out, even bringing water for them to 
do so. At first they were indifferent, but finally 
yielded and extinguished the flames. Thus was the 
Court House saved, and possibly some of the ad- 
joining homes, by Martha Moulton. 1 

The Provincial Congress, in their published 
account of the damages sustained in Concord, aside 
from the public stores, set the value at £274, 16s., 
7d., of which £3, 6s was for broken locks in His 
Majesty's Jail. 2 

Lieutenant Colonel Smith's Retreat through 
Concord. 

It was about 12 o'clock when Lieutenant Colonel 
Smith gave the order to march. As the neighboring 

1 Petition of Martha Moulton, Concord, Feb. 4, 1776, to the Honorable Court 
of the Province of Massachusetts Bay for recognition of her services on that 
occasion. 

' Journals of Each Provincial Congress, of Massachusetts, page 686. 



96 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775. 

hills were covered with provincials, 1 he ordered out 
even larger bodies of flankers, and farther away 
from the main body in the highway. The march 
along the Lexington Road for a little more than a 
mile to Meriam's Corner was uneventful, but at that 
place the struggle was renewed. There the men of 
Concord, Acton, Lincoln, and Bedford came within 
rifle shot of the highway. They had passed along 
the Great Meadow, so called, northerly from the 
range of hills near the highway, and reached Meri- 
am's Corner at about the same time that Smith did. 
New American forces joined the contest here also. 
Billerica sent Lieutenant Crosby with 12 men; 
Capt. Edward Farmer, 35 men; and Capt. Jonathan 
Stickney, 54 men. Chelmsford sent Capt. Oliver 
Barron, 61 men, and Acting Captain, Col. Moses 
Parker, 43 men. Framingham sent Capt. Simon 
Edget, 76 men; Capt. Jesse Ernes, 24 men; Capt. 
Micajah Gleason, 49 men. Reading sent Capt. 
John Bacheller, 61 men; Capt. Thomas Eaton, 63 
men; Capt. John Flint, 79 men, and Capt. John 
Walton, 89 men. Some of the Reading companies 
at least, marched from home under Major, after- 
wards Governor, John Brooks. Rev. Edmund 
Foster accompanied Captain Bacheller's company 
as a volunteer, and has left an interesting narrative 
of what he saw. Sudbury sent Capt. Nathaniel 
Cud worth, 40 men; Capt. Aaron Haynes, 39 men; 
Capt. Isaac Locker, 30 men; Capt. John Nixon, 54 
men; Capt. Joseph Smith, 49 men; and Capt. 

1 De Bernicre thought there could not have been less than 5,000 rebels on the 
hills about Concord. His anxiety greatly multiplied the real number. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 97 

Moses Stone, 35 men. Woburn sent Capt. Samuel 
Belknap, 66 men; Capt. Jonathan Fox, 72 men; 
and Capt. Joshua Walker, 117 men. 

The American reinforcements coming in at 
Meriam's Corner numbered 1,147, making a total 
of 1,534 enrolled men in the ranks of the Provin- 
cials, if all at the North Bridge still remained in 
the fight. 

There were many other Minute Men anxious to 
be in the first struggle but who lived too far away. 
Stow sent a company of militia belonging to Colonel 
Prescott's regiment, commanded by Capt. William 
Whitcom, numbering eighty-one men. They did 
not reach North Bridge until about noon, too late 
to be in the action there, but in time to be close in 
the pursuit. We are told that another company 
from Stow under Captain Hapgood also joined, 
but I find no returns in the Massachusetts State 
Archives. 

Three companies from Westford reached the 
North Bridge too late, but were active afterward. 
They were, respectively, under the command of 
Capt. Oliver Bates, 36 men; Capt. Jonathan Minot, 
36 men; and Capt. Timothy Underwood, 58 men. 

As the Reading men came along the road from 
Bedford and neared Meriam's Corner they dis- 
covered the flank guard of the British just descend- 
ing the ridge of hills. There were from eighty to 
one hundred Red Coats, and they were marching 
slowly and deliberately down the hill, without 
music and without words. The Americans were 
but a little over three hundred feet away. They 



98 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

halted and remained in silence watching their foes. 
The British flankers soon gained the main road at 
the Corner, and passed along a few hundred feet 
toward Lincoln and Lexington, over the little 
bridge that spans Mill Brook. The Americans 
gathered around the Meriam house. As the British 
passed the Bridge they wheeled suddenly and fired 
in volley, but too high, so no one was struck. Then 
the Americans returned the fire with better aim, 
and two Britons fell on the easterly side of the little 
stream, while several were wounded, among them 
Ensign Lester of the ioth Regiment. 1 

Less than half a mile along that road from Meri- 
am's Corner is the northerly corner of the town of 
Lincoln. Along on the edge of Lincoln the highway 
continues, still in an easterly direction, for less than 
another half mile, this stretch being on rather higher 
ground, the northerly side of the road in Concord, 
the southerly side in Lincoln. On the Lincoln side 
is the Brooks Tavern (still standing, 1921). This 
little elevation is called Hardy's Hill, and is about 
sixty feet higher than Concord village. 2 Along the 
summit the skirmishing was actively renewed, and 
continued down its easterly slope into Lincoln. 

This ended the struggle in Concord, but her sons 
and the others were not mindful of the boundary 
line. To them it was more than the Battle of 
Concord — it was the Battle of April Nineteenth. 

The patriots who died in Concord were Capt. 
Isaac Davis, and private Abner Hosmer, both of 

1 Rev. Edmund Foster and Ensign De Bernicre. 
* United States Geological Survey, 1886. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 99 

Acton. The wounded were Luther Blanchard and 
Ezekiel Davis, also of Acton; Jonas Brown of 
Concord and Joshua Brooks of Lincoln. These 
were all at the North Bridge. Abel Prescott, Jr., 
of Concord was wounded while in the village. The 
British killed were two privates at North Bridge 
and two at Meriam's Corner bridge. Their wounded 
were Lieutenant Gould of the 4th Regiment, Lieu- 
tenant Kelly of the loth Regiment, Lieutenant 
Sutherland of the 38th, and Lieutenant Hull of the 
43d, and a number of privates, all at the North 
Bridge. At the little bridge near Meriam's Corner 
Ensign Lester of the loth Regiment and several 
privates were wounded. 

Lieutenant Colonel Smith's Retreat through 
Lincoln. 

At the foot of the easterly slope of Hardy's Hill 
is a little stream crossing the road in a northerly 
direction. It is in Lincoln, and on most maps is 
put down as Mill Brook, the same that curves around 
and crosses the road near Meriam's Corner, rather 
more than a mile back. At Hardy's Hill it has 
sometimes been called Tanner's Brook. 1 

The British had now reached this point, and were 
marching rapidly, keeping their flankers out parallel 
to the highway. 

Over the bridge and up another slight rise and 
then the road turns at a sharp angle to the left, 
northeasterly, to still higher ground about eighty 

1 Frothingham's Siege of Boston. Rev. Mr. Foster's Account. 



IOO THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775. 

feet higher than Concord village. On the north- 
westerly side of that road was a heavy growth of 
trees, and on the opposite side a younger growth. 
On each side of the road, in those two forest growths, 
many American Minute Men were posted. 1 They 
had anticipated the passing of the British by hurry- 
ing across the Great Fields, so called, from the Bed- 
ford Road near Meriam's Corner. Among these 
were the Bedford company under Captain Willson. 
This forest-lined road was only about half a mile 
in extent before it turned again to the eastward. 

When the foremost British reached this location 
the Americans poured in a deadly volley that killed 
eight and wounded many others. 

The contest was by no means one-sided. The 
attention of the Americans here, as all along the line 
to Charlestown, was too firmly fixed on the ranks 
of the enemy marching in the road. The British 
flankers were unnoticed and unthought of. Silently 
and rapidly they swung along, on their parallel 
lines, and very often closed in on those little tell-tale 
puffs of smoke that arose behind the trees and walls, 
and among the bowlders. Thus were many Ameri- 
cans surprised and slain — more, probably twice or 
thrice over, than were killed by the soldiers in the 
highway. 

It was at this Bloody Angle of Battle Road that 
Capt. Jonathan Willson of Bedford met his death. 
And so did Nathaniel Wyman, a native of Billerica, 
but a member of Captain Parker's company. Daniel 
Thompson of Woburn was also killed here. Another 

1 Foster's Account. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775. 



IOI 




102 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775. 

son of Bedford, Job Lane, was severely wounded 
and disabled for life. 1 

The next day five of the British killed were re- 
moved to the little cemetery near Lincoln village 
several miles away for burial. Not many years ago 
the town of Lincoln caused to be placed over their 
common grave a neat and appropriately lettered 
memorial stone. 

After the northeasterly angle the road turns again 
easterly toward Lexington. Half or three-quarters 
of a mile along are the two Hartwell houses, still 
standing (1921), on the northerly side of the road 
and but a few hundred feet apart. 

In the westerly, or first one, lived Sergt. John 
Hartwell, and in the easterly one, Sergt. Samuel 
Hartwell, both members of Captain Smith's Lincoln 
company. Both were absent on duty then, but the 
wife of Samuel was at home. She has furnished a 
vivid narrative of what she saw and experienced 
that afternoon and the following morning. Her 
first alarm of the coming Britons was reports of 
musketry, seemingly in the vicinity of the Brooks 
Tavern, then nearer and nearer to the Bloody Angle. 
Then the hurrying Red Coats themselves, anxious 
and wild in their demeanor as they hurried along 
past her house. One, in his insane anger fired into 
their garret, though he could see no foeman there. 2 

For another mile along the Lincoln Road the 
British must have had some relief, for the country 
is comparatively level, the fields extending away 

1 Jonathan F. Stearns, Bedford Sesqui-Centennial, page 26. Ripley, page 21. 
seems to think that Lane was wounded a little farther along at the Hartwell barn. 

2 Beneath Old Roof Trees, by Abram English Brown, page 221. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775. IOJ 

smoothly on either side. It was not a complete 
lull in the battle, however, for an American bullet 
terminated the life of one Briton at least. The 
remains were uncovered a few years ago when the 
road builders were widening and grading anew the 
highway. He was reinterred over the bordering 
wall in the field to the southwest of the highway, a 
short distance westerly from Folly Pond. 1 

Then comes an easterly bend in the road, though 
still continuing nearly level and for about a quarter 
of a mile to the Nelson house. 2 Here lived Josiah 
Nelson, the Lincoln patriot, who, as we have written, 
alarmed his neighbors in Bedford the night before. 
Around it were many picturesque bowlders, large 
enough to shelter venturesome Minute Men. And 
they were there. William Thorning, one of Captain 
Smith's Lincoln company, had fired on the British 
from some hiding place in this neighborhood, and 
they had returned his fire and chased him into the 
woods. As he was thus escaping the main body he 
met the ever vigilant flank guard, and but narrowly 
escaped them also. Later as they passed along he 
advanced to one of the Nelson bowlders and fired 
again at the British, probably with fatal effect. 
Across the road from the house is a little knoll 
which is called "The Soldiers' Graves" 3 even to this 
day, for therein sleep two British soldiers whose 

1 Statement of Mr. George Nelson, near-by resident, who saw the remains and 
pointed out to me in 1890 the locations of the old and new graves. 

' Standing until a few years ago, although in a shattered condition. It had 
been abandoned as a habitation for many years. A conflagration completed its 
destruction, and now only the scar of its cellar hole and a pile of bricks that 
formed its mammoth chimney and hospitable hearth mark where it stood. 

' Statement to me in 1890 of Mr. Nelson, owner of the old ruins with the 
surrounding fields, and who pointed out "The Soldiers' Graves." 



104 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

summons undoubtedly came from behind the Nelson 
bowlders. 

About a sixth of a mile yet farther along stood 
the home of Samuel Hastings, near the Lexington 
boundary line yet within the town of Lincoln. 
Hastings was a member of Captain Parker's Lexing- 
ton company, 1 and was present and in line for action 
when Pitcairn gave that first order to fire. As the 
British column swept along, one of the soldiers left 
the ranks and entered the house for plunder, un- 
mindful of the dangers lurking in the adjoining 
woods and fields. As he emerged and stood on the 
doorstone an American bullet met him, and he sank 
seriously wounded. There he lay until the family 
returned later in the afternoon and found him. 
Tenderly they carried him into the house and min- 
istered to his wants as best they could, but his wound 
was fatal. After his death they found some of their 
silver spoons in his pocket. He was buried a short 
distance westerly from the house. 2 

It was in Lincoln that most of Captain Parker's 
Lexington company, numbering in all 144 men 
before any were killed, again went into the action, 
probably not far from the Nelson and Hastings 
homes; and also the Cambridge company, under 
Captain Samuel Thatcher, 77 men, joined the pur- 
suit from there. 3 

1 See his deposition in Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, 
but I do not find his name in any other place as a member. 

1 I am indebted to the great-grandchildren of Samuel Hastings, Cornelius and 
Charles A. Wellington, for this statement. They were residents of Lexington, but 
since both have died. 

s See Massachusetts State Archives where twenty-eight miles is the distance 
charged for by most of his men. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775. I05 

The American fatalities in Lincoln, as we have 
seen, were Capt. Jonathan Willson of Bedford; 
Nathaniel Wyman of Billerica, who was a member 
of Captain Parker's Lexington company; and 
Daniel Thompson of Woburn. Job Lane of Bedford 
was slightly wounded. 

The exact British loss in Lincoln cannot be stated. 
It is known that eight were killed at the Bloody 
Angle, and at least four more along the road from 
there to the Hastings house. Many were wounded, 
but no statement or estimate has ever been given. 
The distance across that part of the town is about 
two miles, and the fighting severe for more than half 
the way. 

Lieutenant Colonel Smith's Retreat to Lex- 
ington Village. 

As the British forces again invaded Lexington 
soil undoubtedly they looked for vengeance from 
the hands of the little band that stood before them 
in the early morning. If they did anticipate as 
much they were not disappointed, for, as we have 
stated, Captain Parker and his men had come out 
into the edge of Lincoln to meet them. 

Just over the line into Lexington and a few rods 
north of the road the land rises about fifty feet rather 
abruptly and with a ledgy face. This little summit 
commands a grand view up and down the road for 
quite a distance, and therefore was an ideal location 
for the Minute Men. Many were there awaiting 
the passing of the British, and when they were 
opposite poured down on them a volley. At least 



Io6 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775. 

one fell, an officer, for a few years ago a sword was 
taken up from the depth of about four feet, evidently 
from his grave. It was almost consumed with rust, 
but enough remained to identify it as of British 
make and of that period. The reports of muskets 
and little puffs of blue smoke betrayed the location 
of the marksmen, and the British at once returned 
the fire. Their aim was without effect. One of 
their bullets flattened against the ledge was also 
found by the present owner of the land buried in 
the decayed leaves and refuse at the base of the 
ledge. 1 

Not more than a quarter of a mile farther along 
the road stood Bull's Tavern, 2 in later times known 
as Viles Tavern. Nothing now remains of it but the 
cellar hole, and that is not so deep as once. The 
soldiers ransacked the house for food and drink, but 
left no recompense. A few rods more the road 
turns northeasterly around a bluff twenty feet high, 
perhaps. The struggle was renewed there furiously, 
for the British flankers could not manoeuvre to pro- 
tect the main column so well, and they suffered 
severely for half a mile or more toward Fiske Hill. 
Lieutenant Colonel Smith was wounded by a bullet 
passing through his leg. 3 Major Pitcairn's horse, 
becoming unmanageable through fright, threw him 

1 The sword and bullet were found by Mr. John Lannon about 1895, from 
whom I obtained them. He was then as now owner of the farm. In removing a 
bowlder from his garden it was necessary to dig around it and on one side to a 
depth of about four feet. There he found the sword and a little of its rust-eaten 
scabbard, quite likely in the grave by the side of its wearer. The bullet once 
round, now not half that, had struck the ledge rather than the American on its 
summit, and fell harmlessly at the base. 

1 Rev. Mr. Foster called it Benjamin's Tavern. 

• De Bernicre's Account. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775. 10? 

to the ground and escaped into the American lines, 
where he was captured, together with equipments, 
including the Major's beautiful brace of pistols. 1 

Many British were wounded and many killed 
along this part of Battle Road. A little way from 
the bluff, over the wall on the opposite side of the 
road and in a southerly direction, are graves of two. 
No memorial stone marks the exact spot, and even 
the mounds, too, have long since dissolved away. 2 

The contending forces were now climbing Fiske 
Hill, about sixty feet higher than the bluff. 3 The 
road at that time passed higher up than at present, 
and near the summit fighting was more severe 
again. One Briton at least fell there and was buried 
in the little strip of ground between the old and new 
road. A heap of small stones once marked the spot, 
but they have disappeared 4 

Down the easterly slope of Fiske Hill stood a 

1 The accoutrements were taken to Concord and later sold by auction. Capt. 
Nathan Barrett bought the pistols, beautiful ones, with elaborately chased silver 
mountings, with Pitcairn's name engraved thereon. Captain Barrett offered 
them to General Washington, who declined them, and then to General Putnam, 
who carried them through the war. They were brought to Lexington on Cen- 
tennial Day, April 19, 1875, for exhibition by Rev. S. I. Prime, D.D., on behalf of 
the owner, a widow of John P. Putnam of Cambridge, N. Y., who was the grand- 
son of General Putnam and to whom they descended. Later Mrs. Putnam gave 
them to the town of Lexington, and they are now on exhibition by the Lexington 
Historical Society. (See Handbook of Lexington, 1891.) Rev. William Emer- 
son of Concord requested of the Third Provincial Congress June 1, 1775, the 
use of a horse, probably Pitcairn's, which they granted, specifying one captured 
from a Regular by Isaac Kittredge of Tewksbury, Capt. Nathan Barrett, and 
Henry Flint of Concord, Mr. Emerson to pay a reasonable price for its keeping 
up to that time. 

1 Statement to me by the late Rev. Carlton A. Staples. 

8 U. S. Geological Survey, 1 886. 

4 Statement of H. M. Houghton to the Rev. Carlton A. Staples, who so in- 
formed me. Mr. Houghton lived in that vicinity during his boyhood and fur- 
nished a roughly sketched plan to Mr. Staples. 



108 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775. 

modest little farmhouse on the southerly side of the 
road. It was then the home of Benjamin Fiske. 
The entire family had fled, and the stragglers from 
the British columns entered for pillage. One in his 
greed stayed too long. Brave James Hayward of 
Acton, willing to fight though exempt from military 
service because of a partially dismembered foot, met 
him at the door, laden with booty. The Briton 
recognized in Hayward an enemy, and raising his 
gun exclaimed, "You are a dead man!" 

"And so are you," responded Hayward as he raised 
his gun also. Both fired — both fell, the Briton 
instantly killed and Hayward mortally wounded, 
the ball piercing his powder horn and entering his 
side. He lived eight hours and was conscious to 
the last. Calling for his powder horn and bullet 
pouch he remarked that he started with one pound 
of powder and forty bullets. A very little powder 
and two or three balls were all that were left. 

"You see what I have been about," he exclaimed, 
calling attention to the slight remainder. "I am 
not sorry. I die willingly for my country." 1 And 
so Concord and Lexington, too, reverently treasure 
the memory of brave Acton men, whose life blood 
stained the soil of each. 

Up the westerly slope of Concord Hill, in Lexing- 
ton, an elevation named after her sister town, 
marched the British. Their ranks were broken and 
disordered. Many had been wounded, many had 
been killed, and many had fallen exhausted by the 
wayside. It was then about half past I o'clock, and 

1 James Fletcher's History of Acton, in Hurd's History of Middlesex County. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775. IOQ. 

they had marched rather more than twenty-three 
miles. At that time their ammunition began to 
give out, which added to their discomfiture. Their 
enemies seemed to be countless and everywhere. 
De Bernicre, the spy who was with them, has left 
a vivid word picture of how anxious they were get- 
ting to be. "There could not be less than 5,000," 
he says in his account, "so they kept the road always 
lined, and a very hot fire on us without intermis- 
sion. . . . We began to run rather than retreat in 
order." Lieutenant Colonel Smith says in his re- 
port that the firing on his troops, which began in 
Concord, "increased to a very great degree and 
continued without the intermission of five minutes, 
altogether for I believe upwards of eighteen miles." 

Such was the impression on the minds of Smith 
and his weary soldiers as they hurried along down 
Fiske Hill and up Concord Hill. If he entertained 
any idea of surrendering, though I have no evidence 
that he did, he must have realized the hopelessness 
of that, for no one seemed to be commanding the 
multitude before him, beside him, and behind him. 
They constituted a large circle of individuals, but 
made no attempt to stay his march or guide it in 
any way. They just followed along, seemingly in- 
tent only on hunting down the King's soldiers. 
Had some master mind been in charge of the patriot 
army, Smith's entire force could easily have been 
taken prisoners. But this was the first day of the 
war, and was only a contest between soldiers and 
citizens, and so Smith was allowed to march along. 

Near the foot of the westerly slope of Concord 



110 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

Hill stood the home of Thaddeus Reed. 1 He was 
one of Captain Parker's company. After the Brit- 
ish passed along the Americans picked up three 
severely wounded soldiers and carried them into 
the house, where they all died. They were buried 
not far away, a few feet westerly of Wood Street, 
on the northerly side of a stone wall still standing, 
and but a few rods from Battle Road. Their 
graves are unmarked and almost unknown. 2 

The British flankers were now so thoroughly 
tired out that they could hardly act in that capacity, 
and were of but little use as protectors of the main 
body. The severely wounded were abandoned to 
some extent. Many of the slightly wounded were 
carried along somehow, but they greatly impeded 
the march. Hopes of reinforcements were practi- 
cally abandoned. 3 

And so they proceeded up the hill, the summit of 
which is fully forty feet higher than Fiske Hill, and 
at least eighty feet higher than Lexington Common, 4 
now in view less than a mile away. They must have 
been anxious to reach and pass that little field. 
Down the easterly slope of Concord Hill they almost 
ran in more or less confusion and intense excitement. 
The Americans were actively keeping up their firing, 
and so more Britons were killed and wounded, three 
of the latter so severely that they were abandoned 

1 See Foster's Narrative. 

J The exact spot was pointed out to me by the late Rev. Carlton A. Staples 
Sept. n, 1900, who received his information, accompanied by a plan, from H. M. 
Houghton. 

* Diary of a British Officer in Boston in 1775, who was a member of the 
expedition. 

4 United States Geological Surveys, 1898, 1900. 



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Dr. Fiske's Bill for Attending the Wounded British. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775. Ill 

by their fellow soldiers, fell into the hands of the 
Americans, and were taken into Buckman Tavern. 1 
One subsequently died and was buried with the 
British slain in the old cemetery near by. Their 
graves are unmarked. 2 

The British did not stop to disperse any rebels 
on Lexington Common, for none were there to op- 
pose their retreat, but passed off the southeasterly 
end, as the Americans came promptly after them 
on the northwesterly corner. It was between 2 and 
3 o'clock when they reached the site of the present 
Lexington High School, a trifle more than half a 
mile from the Common. There they met the 
long-wished for reinforcements, under Lord Percy, 
who opened his ranks and enclosed them in his pro- 
tecting care. Many sank immediately into the road 
where they halted, for their physical condition was 
pitiful in the extreme. One of the contemporary 
English historians, an officer in the British Army in 
America, has described them as lying prone on the 
ground, like dogs, with protruding tongues. 3 

Percy then quickly wheeled about his two field 
pieces 4 and opened fire up the road toward the 
Common, where he could see the Americans were 
gathered. It was not fatal in its effect, but served 
to scatter them and do considerable damage to the 
meeting house, one ball passing through it. Col. 
Loammi Baldwin of Woburn was one who had been 

1 Foster's Account. E. P. Bliss gives the number as two in Lexington His- 
torical Society, Proceedings, Vol. I, page 75. 

2 E. P. Bliss in Lexington Historical Society Proceedings, Vol. I, page 75. 

8 C. Stedman. History of the Origin, Progress, and Termination of the 
American War. London, 1794. 
* Percy's Report to General Gage. 



112 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

standing in sight of the British, but he sought shelter 
behind the sacred edifice when he realized the enemy 
had opened fire with artillery. When a ball passed 
through the meeting house and came out near his 
head he retreated northwesterly to the meadow. 1 

Not many of the Americans had been killed thus 
far in the retreat of the British through Lexington. 
We have spoken of James Hayward of Acton, killed 
on the easterly side of Fiske Hill, and must add the 
name of Deacon Josiah Haynes of Captain Nixon's 
Sudbury company, who met his death somewhere 
along the road from Fiske Hill to Lexington Com- 
mon. 2 He was a venerable man, in his seventy- 
ninth year, 3 and had marched from his home down 
to Concord village, up through Lincoln, and into 
Lexington. He was thoroughly in earnest in his 
work of driving the British back to Boston, and in 
an unguarded moment exposed himself to one of 
the King's soldiers. 

On the Lexington part of Battle Road many 
British were killed and many wounded. Among 
the latter were Lieutenant Hawkshaw, Lieutenant 
Cox, and Lieutenant Baker, all of the 5th Regiment; 
Ensign Baldwin and Lieutenant McCloud of the 
47th Regiment; and Captain Souter and Lieutenant 
Potter of the marines. 4 I have previously men- 
tioned the wounding of the commander, Lieutenant 
Colonel Smith, on the westerly slope of Fiske Hill. 

1 The damage to the meeting house by the cannon ball cost the town of Lex- 
ington to repair, £1, is. Rev. C. A. Staples in Lexington Historical Society, 
Proceedings, Vol. I, page 21. 

2 Ripley. 

3 Hudson's History of Sudbury. 

4 De Bernicre. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775. II3 

After the British had departed from Lexington 
immediate attention was given to the Lexington 
patriot dead who were slain on the Common in the 
early morning. From the field of battle they had 
been borne to the meeting house, and there a simple 
service was held over them, consisting of a prayer 
by Rev. Jonas Clarke; then they were carried to the 
little churchyard, where one broad grave received 
them all. It had been a day of terror in Lexington, 
and some fear was felt that the enemy might return 
and wreak yet further vengeance, even, upon the 
dead. So the grave was made in a remote part of 
the yard, near the woods, and the fresh mound of 
earth itself hidden beneath branches cut from the 
neighboring trees. 1 And not forgotten threescore 
years later, their grateful fellow townsmen removed 
their remains to the field where they died, and 
erected a monument to their memory. 2 

1 "Father sent Jonas down to Grandfather Cook's to see who was killed and 
what their condition was and, in the afternoon, Father, Mother with me and the 
Baby went to the Meeting House, there was the eight men that was killed, seven 
of them my Father's parishoners, one from Woburn, all in Boies made of four 
large Boards Nailed up and, after Pa had prayed, they were put into two hor6e 
carts and took into the grave yard where your Grandfather and some of the 
Neighbors had made a large trench, as near the Woods as possible and there we 
followed the bodies of those first slain, Father, Mother, I and the Baby, there I 
stood and there I saw them let down into the ground, it was a little rainey but 
we waited to see them covered up with the Clods and then for fear the British 
should find them, my Father thought some of the men had best Cut some pine 
or oak bows and spread them on their place of burial so that it looked like a heap 
of Brush." 

I am indebted to the Lexington Historical Society, Proceedings, Vol. IV, page 
92, for the above extract from a letter written by Miss Elizabeth Clarke, daughter 
of Rev. Jonas Clarke. It is dated from Lexington, April 19, 1841, and written to 
her niece, Mrs. Lucy Ware Allen, whose mother was Mary, another daughter of 
Rev. Mr. Clarke. The writer, Miss Elizabeth, was then in her seventy-eighth 
year. 

1 But Asahel Porter, the Woburn member of Captain Parker's company, was 
buried in his own town. He had not been in action. See page 69. 



114 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775. 



Earl Percy marches to reinforce Lieutenant 
Colonel Smith. 

As the command of Lieutenant Colonel Smith 
will now rest for a brief period, let us go back to 
Boston and start with Earl Percy, on his mission 
to reinforce the former, and consider his delays and 
difficulties, and why he got no farther than Lexing- 
ton. 

As we have seen, it was between 2 and 3 o'clock 
in the morning when Smith reached Arlington, and 
becoming alarmed at the increasing attention his 
soldiers were attracting — attention that seemed to 
him hostile — he despatched back to General Gage 
an urgent request for reinforcements. His mes- 
senger should easily have reached Gage within two 
hours, for to retrace the march was less than six 
miles by land with an additional half mile or little 
more by boat across the Charles River. Thus 
General Gage should have had Smith's message by 
5 o'clock. He acted promptly by ordering under 
arms the 1st Brigade, consisting of eight companies 
of the 4th, 23d, and 47th Regiments, and to these 
were added two detachments of the Royal Marines 
to be under Maj. John Pitcairn. Two pieces of 
artillery, six-pounders, were also added to the force, 
and the whole placed under the command of Lord 
Percy, with the title, for the occasion, of acting 
brigadier general. His little army numbered about 
1,000 men. 

It was about 7 o'clock when the eight companies 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL I9, 1775. 115 

assembled on Tremont Street, and the line extended 
from Scollay Square to the lower part of the Com- 
mon. There they waited for Pitcairn and his 
marines, nearly two hours. Finally it dawned upon 
the mind of General Gage that his orders to that 
worthy officer might still be lying on his desk un- 
opened, for he had been granted permission to 
accompany Lieutenant Colonel Smith as a volun- 
teer, and perhaps had gone. Such proved to be 
the case, and the two hours were lost. Then another 
commander for them was selected, and they were 
in line at 9 o'clock. 1 Those two hours would have 
brought Percy's forces almost into Concord instead 
of into Lexington village, and would have made 
great difference in the results of the day's fighting. 

Percy, mounted on a beautiful white horse, headed 
the column, and they proceeded over Boston Neck, 
through the present Washington Street, to Roxbury, 
up the hill to the meeting house, then to the right, 
where the old Parting Stone then stood, even as it 
does to-day. In Roxbury his soldiers excited the 
attention of a very young patriot, who laughed 
derisively as the musicians played "Yankee Doodle." 
Lord Percy noticed him and asked the reason of his 
mirth. The boy responded: "To think how you 
will dance by-and-by to Chevy Chase." 

The British commander felt uncomfortable the 
rest of the day because of the suggestive and pro- 
phetic reply. 2 He continued into Brighton and to 

1 Frothingham's History of the Siege of Boston. 

s William Gordon's History of the Rise, Progress, and Establishment of the 
Independence of the United States of America. New York, 1794, Vol. I, page 
312. 



Il6 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775. 

the westerly bank of the Charles River, opposite 
Harvard Square in Cambridge, his route being 
through Harvard Avenue, Franklin Square, Franklin 
Street, Boylston Street and over the Larz Anderson 
Bridge, these being the modern names of various 
parts of the old highway from Brookline village. 
Near Harvard Square the river was narrow and 
easily bridged, and over it was then the only way 
into Boston by road from the upper towns in Mid- 
dlesex County. 

The Americans, anticipating Percy's movements, 
had taken up the planks of the bridge, but did not 
continue the good work thoroughly, for they piled 
them handily on the Cambridge side. It was a 
simple matter for Percy's engineers to cross over on 
the stringers and relay enough of them for his 
soldiers to pass into Cambridge. Had the planks 
been farther removed Percy was prepared to replace 
them, for he had brought with him material for the 
purpose, and carpenters to do the work. He an- 
ticipated the partial destruction of the bridge, at 
least, and prepared his remedy accordingly, and 
must have been surprised at the point where the 
Americans concluded their labors. He carried his 
planks along about a mile and a half, and then sent 
them back, as they were only an encumbrance. He 
had no use for them on his return, for he had another 
plan, as we shall see later on. 1 

It was at the bridge that Percy marched ahead 
and left his wagon train of supplies to follow on as 

1 Rev. Isaac Mansfield, Jr., chaplain of General Thomas's regiment, in a 
Thanksgiving sermon in camp at Roxbury Nov. 23, 1775. See Thornton's Pul- 
pit of the American Revolution, page 236. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 1 17 

soon as they could safely cross. The delay to 
them was considerable, and so the main army soon 
passed out of sight. 

The roundabout route the British had taken to 
reach Harvard Square was necessary, at that time, 
because, as we have stated, no bridge crossed the 
river lower down. Could he have crossed as we do 
to-day, the distance would have been but a little 
over three miles, whereas it was eight miles as he 
marched, or nearly two hours more time. He could 
not cross in boats as did Lieutenant Colonel Smith 
for two reasons, — first, his soldiers were too many, 
and secondly, the boats were even then moored on 
the Cambridge side awaiting Smith's return. 

When Percy reached Cambridge he was some- 
what puzzled to know just which way to start for 
Lexington. In his official report he declares the 
houses were all shut up and there was not a single 
inhabitant to give him any information about the 
force under Smith. He did find one man, Isaac 
Smith, a tutor in Harvard College, who directed 
him along the right highway. When his fellow 
citizens of Cambridge learned of this free intelligence 
a little later on, they were indignant, and Isaac 
Smith, feeling reproved, shortly afterwards left the 
country for awhile. It does not appear that he 
intended to aid and abet the enemy, but granted 
the little courtesy without thinking of its value. 
It was regretted that Percy was not sent down 
toward or into the marshes bordering Willis Creek, 
and so delayed an hour or more. 1 

1 Edward Everett Hale in Memorial History of Boston, Vol. 3. 



Il8 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

The British marched rapidly on leaving Harvard 
Square and were soon quite a distance ahead of the 
baggage train, deeming it safe to leave it to follow- 
under the guidance of a sergeant's guard of twelve 
men. It was no small task to get it safely over the 
dismantled bridge, and the delay there was con- 
siderable. Vigilant Americans watched the pro- 
ceedings and realized the opportunity to seize it. 
They hurried on to Arlington to formulate their 
plans for its capture. As Cambridge seemed to be 
generally deserted, the sergeant and his men evi- 
dently felt no uneasiness at their delay. In due 
time, however, they were on the march again, 
headed for Lexington. 1 

Not long after they passed the Charlestown road, 
the Beech Street of to-day, Dr. Joseph Warren and 
his friend Dr. Thomas Welsh came into Cambridge. 
Warren lived in Boston, and left his home that 
morning and crossed the ferry into Charlestown. 
There he met Welsh and many other citizens, and 
communicated to them the news he had received 
by special messenger from Lexington. It was then 
about 10 o'clock. 2 A little after, he and Dr. Welsh, 
on horseback, were on their way to Cambridge, 
where they arrived only to find the road ahead 
occupied by the baggage train. They endeavored 
to pass, but were not permitted to do so. The 
sergeant inquired of Dr. Warren if he knew where 
the British troops then were, but the doctor could 
only give a negative reply. There seemed to be quite 

1 West Cambridge on the Nineteenth of April, 1775; an address by Samuel 
Abbot Smith, Boston, 1864, page 27. 

2 Frothingham's Siege of Boston. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 1 10. 

a little uneasiness in the minds of the British, as they 
evidently feared they were too widely separated 
from the main body and might be captured. 1 A 
guard of twelve men is not a large force to conduct 
a baggage train through a hostile country. Percy's 
first and most serious mistake had been committed. 
It was then noontime, or a little after. 

In the meantime about a dozen of the elderly 
men of Menotomy, exempts mostly, assembled 
near the center of the village and awaited the ar- 
rival of the baggage train. Among them were 
Jason Belknap, Joe Belknap, James Budge, Israel 
Mead, Ammi Cutter, and David Lamson, a half 
Indian. Some of them had served in the French 
War. Rev. Phillips Payson, A.M., of Chelsea was 
also present and took an active part. 2 They chose 
Lamson to be leader, and took a position behind a 
stone wall on the northerly side of the road nearly 
opposite the First Parish Meeting House. As the 
baggage train appeared nearly opposite, Lamson 
ordered his men to rest and aim at the horses, at 
the same time calling out to the sergeant to sur- 
render. He made no reply, and his driver whipped 
up the horses to escape. It was too late, for Ameri- 
can bullets easily stopped them, killed two British 
soldiers and wounded several others. 3 The soldiers 
then abandoned their charge and ran southerly 
along the westerly shore of Spy Pond, as far as 
Spring Valley, where they came upon an elderly 
lady of Menotomy, known as Mother Bathericke, 

1 Edward Everett Hale in Memorial History of Boston. Vol. 3. 

2 Brown's Beneath Old Roof Trees. 
8 Smith's Address. 



120 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

engaged in digging dandelions. They begged her 
assistance and protection; consequently she con- 
ducted them to the house of Capt. Ephraim Frost, 
where they were detained as prisoners, 1 probably 
to their mental relief. They were thoughtful enough 
not to include their guns in the surrender, for some 
were thrown into Spy Pond, and one was ruined by 
striking it heavily over a stone wall and bending it 
hopelessly out of shape. 

The captured wagons were drawn down into the 
hollow, still to be seen a little northeasterly of the 
present Arlington railroad station, where the con- 
tents were distributed freely to all comers. The 
remaining horses were driven off to Medford, and 
the bodies of the dead ones, in accordance with the 
suggestion of the Rev. Mr. Cook, who feared ex- 
citing the anger of the returning British, were 
dragged away to the field near Spring Valley, west- 
erly of Spy Pond, and there for many years their 
bones bleached in the sun. 2 

All other marks of the contest were obliterated 
from the highway, that Percy might not trace what 
had happened to his baggage wagons and wreak 
vengeance upon the townspeople. 

General Percy 3 marched less than two miles 
beyond Arlington Centre, when he distinctly heard 
the firing in Lexington. He was not far from the 

1 Smith's Address. Some of the opposition newspapers in England were 
quite merry and some quite sarcastic over the surrender of six lusty soldiers to 
one old woman, and inquired, on that basis how many British troops would it 
take to conquer America? 

2 Smith's Address. 

• He signed his official report to General Gage, "Percy, Acting Brig. Gen." 
So that was his title for April Nineteenth. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775. 121 

boundary line between Arlington and Lexington, 
and the time was, as he has written, between I and 
2 o'clock. 1 At about that time he met Lieutenant 
Gould of the 4th or King's Own Regiment, who, as 
we have written, was wounded at the North Bridge 
and was then returning in a borrowed Concord 
chaise, drawn by a borrowed Concord horse. From 
him Percy learned the details of Lieutenant Colonel 
Smith's march, and of his present urgent need of 
assistance. He hurried along toward Lexington 
and Lieutenant Gould continued his retreat toward 
Boston, but was captured as he reached Arlington 
village. The exact spot was on the present Massa- 
chusetts Avenue, near Mill Street, and his captors 
were some of the old men who had destroyed the 
baggage wagons. Gould was first taken to Ammi 
Cutter's and then to Medford, 2 and his own depo- 
sition shows that he was kindly treated. 

At last, after a march of nearly sixteen miles, 8 
Percy met the returning force under Lieutenant 
Colonel Smith, who had passed Lexington Common, 
the scene of his engagement in the morning, and 
was down the road toward Boston half a mile. The 
place of meeting was opposite the present Lexington 
High School, and the time between 2 and 3 o'clock. 
Percy being the ranking officer immediately took 
command of the united forces. It did not take him 
long to realize the terrible condition that Smith's 
troops were in, and to minister to their wants. As 

1 See the rough or preliminary draft of his report to Gage. 
1 Smith's Address, pages 31, 32. 

» To be exact, for I have measured the route over which he marched, it was 
ISJJ miles. 



122 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775. 

they halted in the road his own ranks opened to 
receive them, and there they sank to the ground 
utterly exhausted. Such as could eat or drink 
were supplied from his own stores, while the wounded 
were taken still farther down the road, less than a 
quarter of a mile, to the Munroe Tavern, which he 
proceeded to establish as his headquarters and for 
use as a hospital. Near the place of meeting, coming 
in from the eastward, was then and is now the 
Woburn Road, the bordering walls of which shel- 
tered plenty of American Minute Men. Back a 
little to the southward rose the modest elevation 
now sometimes called Mt. Vernon. Americans 
were there also, for it was high enough for them to 
look down on the highway very nicely if permitted 
to do so. Percy's flankers, however, were directed 
to clear all surrounding locations of enemies to the 
King, and Mt. Vernon and the Woburn Road were 
soon under the British flag again, or nearly so. 
But occasionally from some obscure or neglected 
corner rose a puff of blue smoke, and then the wearer 
of that brilliant red uniform would tumble over in 
the road, wounded or dying or dead. Little bodies 
of Minute Men, unorganized always, were seen 
dodging back and forth around the meeting house 
on the Common. Other little groups, and many 
singly, were noticed climbing over walls, emerging 
from and disappearing again behind clumps of 
bushes and trees and houses — hardly ever in sight 
long enough to shoot at. Percy, thinking to awe 
them, wheeled his two six-pounders into position 
and opened his first cannonade on the meeting house 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775. 123 

on Lexington Common. It was likewise the first 
cannon fired in the American Revolution. No 
American was killed or even wounded, but the 
house of God in Lexington suffered, and it cost the 
town some money to repair it. The cannon ball 
crashing through the meeting house did have the 
effect to drive the Americans farther back, and 
probably" out of musket range for awhile. 

Percy, having thus scattered his near-by enemies, 
then moved one of his six-pounders a few rods down 
the road near the present Bloomfield Street, then up 
the little elevation to the southward, now called 
Mt. Vernon. The precise spot was probably about 
opposite the northerly end of the present Warren 
Street. He strongly supported it with a part of his 
brigade. 1 This location was an excellent one for 
artillery, as it commanded the highway for fully a 
mile to Lexington Common and beyond. As before, 
his gunner could find no American long enough in 
one place to aim at. So there were no fatalities. 

While Smith's soldiers were resting, some of those 
under Percy as reinforcements wandered about that 
part of the village bent on mischief and pillage not 
the kind usually indulged in by the average rowdy 
element of an army, but on a much larger and 
grander scale. Houses and outlying buildings were 
looted and burned. The first ones were owned by 
Deacon Joseph Loring, non-combatant, seventy- 
three years of age and were situated close by the 
meeting place of the two detachments, on the 

1 In his report he states that he "drew up the Brigade on a height." Only 
Mt. Vernon was easily accessible for such a movement. See also Dooljttle's 
A View of the South Part of Lexington, for confirmation. 



124 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775. 

westerly side of the road. This group of buildings 
consisted of a mansion house, a barn seventy-five feet 
long, and a corn house. All were completely de- 
stroyed, together with such of their contents as could 
not be carried away. About two hundred rods of 
Loring's stone walls were also pushed over, empha- 
sizing strongly the feeling of hostility existing among 
the British soldiers for their American cousins. His 
loss was £720. 1 This wanton and needless destruc- 
tion of property must have been by the express com- 
mand of Percy, for he was but a few rods away. 

On the easterly side of the road, nearly opposite 
the Loring house, standing on the site of the present 
Russell House, was the home of Matthew Mead. 
That, too, was within a few rods of where Percy sat 
on his white horse, but it was ransacked by his 
soldiers, and Mead's loss was £101. 2 

Another plundered Lexington home in that 
neighborhood belonged to Benjamin Merriam, one 
of Parker's company, and of course absent. His 
house was not burned, but damaged to the extent 
of £6. His loss of personal property amounted to 
£217, 4s. 2 The building is still in existence, but 
has been moved easterly into Woburn Street across 
the railroad tracks. Its original location was on 
the westerly side of Massachusetts Avenue, a few 
rods north of Winthrop Road, and easily within 
sight of the British commander, Lord Percy. 

And let us not forget that from that time on 
Percy was in supreme command of the united 
British forces, amounting to nearly 1,800 men. 

1 Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts in 177s, page 686. 

2 Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts in 177s, page 688. 




J'ulitf/ifct, Se/t. r CO* 1J&5, /y Jo/m ■ FieMi*i9,JP<tter Jfyter ,7io 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775. 125 

His loss in killed and wounded was surprisingly small 
considering the number of Americans in pursuit. 
To hirn belongs the blame for the burned homes of 
inoffensive non-combatants; for the killing of such 
helpless old men as Raymond; for the summary 
removal of Hannah Adams and her infant from 
child-bed; for the killing of feeble-minded William 
Marcy; for the killing of fourteen-year-old Edward 
Barber. His entire march back to Charlestown was 
thickly dotted with just such incidents, unrelieved 
by any conspicuous merciful action or by any deed 
of bravery. In some respects it was a skilful retreat, 
and in more respects it was a brutal one too. Hap- 
pily for the American patriots in succeeding con- 
tests no other British commander seemed inspired 
by such revengeful instincts. Happily for the 
British historian he has no other such brutal events 
to apologize or blush for. Percy occupies his one 
page in history, uniquely, at least. 

His services in America terminated soon thereafter 
at his own request, for some reason which we know 
not of. Possibly he was satisfied with the fame, such 
as it was, which he had won on that glorious day. 1 

1 A majority of the voters of Lexington in town meeting assembled have re- 
named a near-by street "Percy Road," in commemoration of his visit on that 
Nineteenth of April. Almost any other foeman's name would have been better, 
if it is thus necessary to mark a growing feeling of respect and kindliness between 
two nations of kindred blood. Its older name was Mt. Vernon Street. 

Lexington has many street names in memory of that battle day, such as Adams, 
Clarke, Hancock, Muzzey, Revere. Percy Road starts from near the old Mun- 
roe Tavern. What better name could there be for this thoroughfare than Mun- 
roe Avenue, in memory of Sergt. William Munroe, or of his grandson, James S. 
Munroe, who has generously bequeathed the Tavern to be forever open for pub- 
lic inspection? The Lexington Historical Society now has possession of it for 
that purpose, and they have placed therein a great number of interesting and 
valuable historical mementoes. 



126 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

The next Lexington home to be destroyed by the 
incendiary belonged to the Widow Lydia Mulliken 
and her son. It stood not far from Loring's, on the 
main road to Boston, nearly opposite the present 
Munroe School. The clock shop connected with 
the same estate was also burned. As in the pre- 
vious cases such personal effects as were desired by 
the soldiers were first removed and subsequently 
carried away. The works of a valuable musical 
clock were found in the knapsack of a wounded 
Briton when he was subsequently captured. 1 The 
Mulliken loss was £43 1. 2 

John Mulliken, cabinet maker, son of the widow, 
and living in Concord, joined in the pursuit and 
came as far as Lexington. There he saw his mother's 
house in flames, which affected him so deeply that 
he could proceed no farther. 3 

A modest little home and shop belonging to 
Joshua Bond, standing northwesterly from Munroe 
Tavern, and very near the present beginning of 
"Percy Road," so called, were first looted and then 
burned. His loss was £189, 16s., 7d. 

The greater part of these happenings were within 
that first half hour after Percy took command of 
the united British forces, and before he began his 
retreat. This energetic destroyer of American homes 
had selected Munroe Tavern as his temporary head- 
quarters, and ordered his wounded conveyed there 
also. While their wounds were being dressed, his 

1 Lexington Historical Society, Proceedings, Vol. Ill, page 135. 

2 See Doolittle's A View of the South Part of Lexington, for an idea of those 
burning Lexington homes. 

8 Lexington Historical Society, Proceedings, Vol. Ill, page 135. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 127 

men demanded such refreshments as the place could 
provide, and, unlike Smith's subordinates in Con- 
cord, were not considerate enough to pay for them. 
So Landlord William Munroe's loss was £203, us., 
9d., of which £90 was in the "retail shop," pre- 
sumably of a liquid nature. As he was orderly 
sergeant in Captain Parker's company, he was 
naturally absent on duty, and left a lame man, John 
Raymond, in charge, who waited upon the unbidden 
guests because he was compelled to. His last serv- 
ice was to mix a glass of punch for one of the Red 
Coats, after which he essayed to escape through the 
garden. He was not alert enough, for two soldiers 
fired, and one of their bullets readily overtook him 
as he hobbled away. 1 Thus one more was added 
to the list of American dead, one of the easiest 
victims, of course, for he was simply an unarmed 
cripple. This probably happened at the rear of the 
Tavern. 

A few rods from the Tavern, down the road 
toward Boston, were two more Lexington homes 
on opposite sides of the street and quite near to 
each other. They are still standing (1921). In the 
one on the westerly side lived Samuel Sanderson, a 
member of Captain Parker's company. He was 
not at home, so they killed his cow instead, not for 
food, but for the pure pleasure of killing something. 
Evidently Landlord Munroe's liquor was having 
some effect, if not in making men braver, then in 
making them more brutal. Sanderson did not 

1 A carefully written newspaper clipping, evidently from a Boston periodical, 
dated April 19, 1858, preserved in a scrapbook once belonging to the Thomas 
Waterman collection of American History. 



128 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1 775. 

report the amount of his loss to the Legislature. 
On the easterly side of the road lived John Mason 
and family. All were absent so the soldiers per- 
mitted themselves to carry away property to the 
value of £14, 13s. 4d. : 

Many other homes in Lexington were ransacked, 
mostly during Percy's halt. The total loss, as 
reported to the Legislature in 1783, amounted to 
£1,761, is., 5d. Undoubtedly many minor losses 
were not reported at all. 

While these events were happening, the American 
Minute Men were not idle. From Mt. Vernon to 
the westward, and from the Munroe meadows to 
the eastward, came many leaden messengers, some 
of them effective. Among the British officers 
wounded, and probably most of them during the 
halt, were Lieutenant Hawkshaw, Lieutenant Cox, 
and Lieutenant Baker of the 5th; Ensign Baldwin 
and Lieutenant McCloud of the 47th; and Captain 
Souter and Lieutenant Potter of the marines. 
Many privates were killed and wounded. 2 

Shortly after the meeting of Percy and Smith, 
Gen. William Heath of Roxbury arrived in Lexing- 
ton and endeavored to effect the organization of the 
American forces into the semblance of an army. 
Dr. Joseph Warren arrived on the scene at the same 
time. Heath's efforts were hardly successful, as the 
patriots chose to fight as they had from the be- 
ginning, — singly and self-commanded. It appears 
that Heath had first gone to Cambridge to meet 

1 Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts in 1775. 
1 De Bernicre's Report. 




Gen. William Heath. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1 775. 1 29 

the Committee of Safety, and from there intended 
to go to Lexington, but fearing the British were in 
possession of the road in that direction had taken 
one across to Watertown. Finding there some of 
the militia of the town awaiting orders, he directed 
them to Cambridge to take up the planks of the 
Boston bridge, barricade its southerly end and dis- 
pute the passage of the retreating British on their 
way home to Boston. Then he proceeded to Lex- 
ington, and upon his arrival there was generally 
recognized as the commanding officer of the Ameri- 
can forces. He found the people there aroused to 
great excitement, caused by the bombardment of 
the meeting house and the burning of so many 
homes. 1 

It must have been half past 3, or perhaps nearly 
4 o'clock, when Percy gave the order to march. He 
realized the distance to Boston and the dangers 
along the way. "As it now began to grow pretty 
late," he says in his official report, "and we had 15 
miles 2 to retire, and only our 36 rounds, I ordered 
the Grenadiers and Light Infantry to move off 
first, 3 and covered them with my Brigade, sending 
out very strong flanking parties." 

The imposing display and the vigilant flankers 
had the desired effect of keeping the Americans at 
a comparatively safe distance, and so Percy and his 
little army marched down through East Lexington 
in safety. 

1 Heath's Memoirs, page 201. 

» Then he had in mind to return by way of Roxbury, a longer march than to 
Charlestown. 

» De Bernicre says the Light Infantry was in front, then the Grenadiers. 



I3O THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

The looting section picked up considerable plun- 
der from the abandoned homes along the way, evi- 
dently without protest from the commander. The 
march was a slow one, for Smith's weary and wounded 
soldiers had to be considered. Many of them were 
on the verge of collapse, and quite a few dropped 
out of the ranks for good. De Bernicre in his ac- 
count places the "missing" at 26. One of those, a 
German, was discovered by the roadside in East 
Lexington soon after Percy had passed out of sight. 
He was well treated by the Americans, and made 
his home among them for many years. 1 

The Americans killed in Lexington during the 
afternoon were Jedediah Munroe and John Ray- 
mond. The British loss was much greater, for the 
Americans were being reinforced constantly by 
Minute Men from the remote towns. Three com- 
panies from Newton entered the battle at Lexington, 
under the command, respectively, of Capt., Lieuten- 
ant John Marean, 37 men; Capt. Amariah Fuller, 
105 men; and Capt. Jeremiah Wiswell, 76 men. 
Together these numbered 218 men, making the 
total enrolment of the Americans in pursuit of 
Percy as he passed out of Lexington, 1,954 men. 

Percy's Retreat through Arlington. 

It was not far from half past 4 when the British 
crossed the Lexington line and entered into Arling- 
ton. Their retreating march in Lexington meas- 

1 Told to me by the venerable Charles Brown, living in 1911 in East Lexing- 
ton. His grandfather, Capt. Edmund Munroe, was an active participant in the 
events of April 19. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775. 



131 




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£ 6 



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132 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

ured about two and one-quarter miles. Along the 
road they had striven to kill in honorable battle. 
They had succeeded but slightly, and paid an un- 
usual price with a much larger number of their own 
dead and wounded. Percy's aim seemed to have 
been to terrorize his opponents at whatever cost. 
The life of Raymond was not taken in battle, nor 
can rapine and incendiarism add glory to Percy's 
military renown. Lexington's highway to Arlington 
ran between pillaged and burning homes, and his 
soldiers staggered along under heavy burdens of 
property stolen from those whose King was his 
King. Concord and Lincoln, fortunately, have none 
of Percy's deeds related in their chronicles, but Lex- 
ington and Arlington and Cambridge and Somerville 
have good reason to remember his terrible conception 
of warfare. 

Gen. William Heath, as the commanding officer 
of the Americans, endeavored to organize his forces 
into something like an army. He did not greatly 
succeed, but re-formed some of the forces that had 
been scattered by Percy's cannonade directed 
toward the meeting house on Lexington Common. 1 

Descending the high lands in the upper part of 
Arlington by the road now known as Appleton 
Street, which skirts along near the base of Arlington 
Heights and drops to the "Foot of the Rocks," the 
Americans pressed in greater numbers and greater 
courage on Percy's rear guard. The bravery of 
individuals at this point became conspicuous and 
often foolishly hazardous. Percy, in his report, 

1 Heath's Memoirs. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 133 

speaks of some concealed in houses by the wayside, 
who would emerge therefrom and approach within 
ten yards to fire at him and his officers, though sure 
of a fatal fire in return. He seemed surprised at 
their enthusiasm, as he called it, evidently forget- 
ting how much he had excited their anger. It is 
almost beyond belief that he could have escaped 
through such a gauntlet, mounted as he was, on 
that beautiful white horse, a conspicuous mark from 
the hillsides along the way. But he did, for such is 
occasionally the fortune of war. 

The forces of the Americans were greatly aug- 
mented during the pursuit through Arlington. 
Minute Men from the near-by Middlesex towns, and 
from Essex and Norfolk counties, arrived at that 
time and disposed themselves along a line parallel 
to the highway, as their individual fancies dictated, 
and independent of any commander-in-chief. They 
were posted along the hillside to the south, behind 
the walls, and even within buildings adjacent to the 
road, singly and in squads, and among them were 
many unerring marksmen, who added greatly to the 
British loss in killed and wounded. Percy would 
have been dismayed had he known the number of 
reinforcements he must then contend with, but 
they were not paraded for his inspection. His own 
army at the highest had not numbered over 1,800 
men, but now considerably depleted by his losses 
along the way, it is doubtful if it would equal 1,600 
really effective soldiers. 

The Americans entering the contest at Arlington 
were from Brookline, Capt. Thomas White and 95 



134 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

men, and possibly two other companies under Col. 
Thos. Aspinwall and Maj. Isaac Gardner, number of 
men unknown; 1 Watertown, Capt. Samuel Barnard, 
134 men; Medford, Capt. Isaac Hall, 59 men; 
Maiden, Capt. Benjamin Blaney, 75 men; Roxbury, 
Capt. Lemuel Child, 35 men, Capt. William Draper, 
50 men, Capt. Moses Whiting, 55 men; Dedham, 
Capt. Eben Battle, 66 men, Capt. Wm. Bullard, 59 
men, Capt. Daniel Draper, 24 men, Capt. William 
Ellis, 31 men, Capt. David Fairbanks, 14 men, 
Capt. Aaron Fuller, 67 men, Capt. George Gould, 
17 men, Capt. Joseph Guild, 59 men; Needham, 
Capt. Aaron Smith, 70 men, Capt. Robert Smith, 
75 men, Capt. Caleb Kingsbery, 40 men; Lynn, 
Capt. Nathaniel Bancroft, 38 men, Capt. William 
Farrington, 52 men, Capt. Rufus Mansfield, 46 
men, Capt. Ezra Newhall, 49 men, Capt. David 
Parker, 63 men; Beverly, Capt. Caleb Dodge, 32 
men, Capt. Larkin Thorndike, 48 men, Lieut. Peter 
Shaw, 42 men; Danvers, Capt. Samuel Epes, 82 
men, Capt. Samuel Flint, 45 men, Capt. Israel 
Hutchinson, 53 men, Capt. Caleb Lowe, 23 men, 
Capt. Jeremiah Page, 39 men, Capt. Asa Prince, 37 
men, Capt. Edm. Putnam, 17 men, Capt. John Put- 
nam, 35 men; Menotomy, Capt. Benjamin Locke, 
53 men. Undoubtedly some of Locke's men were 
engaged earlier in the day, particularly those who 
lived in Arlington, for 26 of them assembled on the 
Common at daybreak, and must have gone up to 
Lexington, at least. Of the other members, 11 

1 Bolton's Brookline. White's was the only company to file claim for pay, 
however. See Massachusetts State Archives. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775. 135 

were from Charlestown, 7 from Boston, 3 from 
Stoneham, 2 from Lexington, 1 from Newton, and I 
whose residence is unknown. Together these rein- 
forcements at Arlington numbered 1,779 men. 

Under the combined efforts of General Heath 
and Dr. Warren the Minute Men were encouraged 
to rally and draw nearer the rear guard of Percy's 
column, to harass and destroy them. The two 
British field pieces were often turned on the Ameri- 
cans, but were too cumbersome for effective use 
against the elusive Minute Men. The cannon balls 
went tearing up the road, smashing trees and shrubs, 
toppling over stone walls, pushing jagged holes 
through buildings, striking terror into the hearts of 
women and children and presumably many of the 
men, who were unused to war. 

This renewal of activities commenced in Arlington 
where the road comes in from Lexington and skirts 
along the northerly base of Peirce's Hill, now called 
Arlington Heights. The descent from there to the 
plain is by a steep grade, and the lower end of that 
part of the highway was then, and is now, known 
as "Foot of the Rocks." This skirting, curved 
road around Peirce's Hill still exists. Its easterly 
end is now called Appleton Street, and its westerly 
end, Paul Revere Road. Since that time a straighter 
road with gentler grade has been made to connect 
the two ends of that part of Battle Road, and forms 
a part of the new Massachusetts Avenue from Boston 
to the Concord line. 

It was at the "Foot of the Rocks" that Dr. War- 
ren, brave even to recklessness, exposed himself to 



I36 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

some vigilant British marksman, who could not fail 
to notice his enthusiasm and influence. The bullet 
came dangerously near the Doctor's head, so near, 
in fact, as to strike a pin from his earlock. 1 Here, 
also, Dr. Downer of Roxbury engaged in single 
combat with a British soldier, whom he slew with 
a bayonet thrust. 1 

Toward the summit of Peirce's Hill was the Rob- 
bins home. The family had fled. Percy's flank 
guard ransacked the house, built a fire on the kitchen 
floor, which burned off a line full of wet clothes 
hanging over it, letting them fall into the flames 
which were thereby extinguished. 2 

Down this road a little farther stood the Tufts 
Tavern, once occupied by Mr. Cutler, the rich 
farmer and butcher, but at that time by John Tufts, 
previously of Medford, whose wife was Rebecca, a 
daughter of Mr. Cutler. It will be recalled that 
Tufts had been aroused in the early morning by the 
British, and when they returned the family had 
fled. Soldiers broke into the upper end of it, loaded 
themselves with such plunder as they could carry 
away, and maliciously destroyed some that they 
were obliged to leave behind. One thrust his bayo- 
net through the best mirror, the frame of which was 
long preserved, 3 while others, thinking to serve their 
King, opened the taps of the casks containing mo- 
lasses and spirits, allowing them to escape. Then 

1 Heath's Memoirs. 

2 Mrs. Lydia Peirce's statement in Smith's Address, page 33. 

8 Mrs. Almira T. Whittemore in Parker's Arlington, page 194. The tavern is 
still standing, or part of it, numbered 965 Massachusetts Avenue, opposite Mt. 
Vernon Street. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775. I37 

they set fire to the building, and left in haste to 
rejoin their retreating companions. A faithful col- 
ored slave of Mr. Cutler's, watching from a distance, 
entered soon after their departure and extinguished 
the fire. 

Richer plunder awaited the looters at the home of 
Joseph Adams, a venerable deacon of the Second 
Precinct Church. He had remained at home with 
his family until Percy's troops came into sight up 
the road. Then fearing that his outspoken views, 
strongly antagonistic to the British ministry, might 
subject him to abuse by Percy and his soldiers, he 
determined to make his way across the fields to the 
Rev. Mr. Cook's barn. He was seen, and a volley 
of bullets followed, but he reached the barn and 
hid in the hay. Some of the soldiers followed, even 
into the barn, and pierced the hay with their bayo- 
nets, but he was not exactly there. Some of them 
burst open the door of his home, and three broke 
into the chamber where lay his wife and their infant 
child, but a few days old. The mother was too ill to 
even arise. One of the soldiers opened the bed cur- 
tains, and with fixed bayonet pointing to her breast 
seemed about to slay her. She begged him not to 
kill her, but he only angrily replied, "Damn you!" 

Another soldier, with a more humane heart, inter- 
ceded, and said, "We will not kill the woman if she 
will go out of the house, but we will surely burn it." 

Inspired by the threat, Mrs. Adams then arose, 
drew a blanket about herself and little infant, 1 and 
painfully made her way to the corn house close by. 

1 This little child lived into womanhood and became the wife of James Hill. 



I38 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775. 

It was the first journey since her illness, as far as 
her chamber door even. Other children were left 
within the house, as she was too weak to be of any 
assistance to them. They had hidden under a bed, 
but curiosity getting the better of Joel, aged nine 
years, the little folks were all discovered, but not 
harmed. They saw the sheets stripped from the 
beds and household valuables dumped into them, 
even including the works of an old clock, an heir- 
loom in the family. Most valuable of all the booty 
was the silver tankard belonging to the communion 
service given to the church in 1769, by Jonathan 
Butterfield. It was subsequently pawned by the 
thief to a Boston silversmith, Austin by name, who 
read the engraved inscription thereon and notified 
Deacon Adams. After the evacuation of Boston by 
the British the two deacons redeemed the tankard 
at their own expense, and returned it to the church, 
where it is still in use. 

The soldiers of Lord Percy then emptied a basket 
of chips on the floor, set them on fire with a brand 
from the hearth, and went on their way. The 
Adams children put out the blaze with a quantity 
of home-brewed beer, but not until the floor was 
badly burned, the ceiling smoked, and a quantity of 
pewter plates on the dresser melted. 1 

A little farther along, on the westerly side of the 
road, lived Jason Russell, aged fifty-eight years. 2 

1 Mrs. Adams's deposition and Smith's Address, wherein he quotes Mrs. Thos. 
Hall, granddaughter of Mrs. Adams, Rev. Mr. Brown's Sermon on James Hill, 
and S. G. Damon's article in The Christian Register, Oct. 28, 1854. 

2 Born Jan. 25, 1717. Paige's History of Cambridge. The old gravestone 
in the cemetery at Arlington calls him fifty-nine years old. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775. I39 

Somewhat helpless because lame, he had started 
with his family at noontime for refuge at George 
Prentiss's on the hill. After going a little way he 
felt impelled to return and look after the safety of 
his home. He barricaded his gate with bundles of 
shingles and from behind them took his position to 
fire upon the enemy as they should come along and 
pass by in the road a rod away. Rather a feeble 
fortress from any military standpoint, and one that 
proved to be a death trap for its builder. Northerly 
across the road and across the brook lived Ammi 
Cutter, a kindly neighbor, who came and pleaded 
with Russell to abandon his dooryard for a place of 
greater safety. Russell replied that "An English- 
man's house is his castle." Cutter remained by his 
side until the advancing British were seen up the 
road, and then started on the run across the road, 
over the wall and through the fields toward his 
home. Reaching the old mill yard, and still run- 
ning, he stumbled and fell between two logs, and 
the enemy's bullets scattered bark over him as he 
lay. They thought him dead because he fell as 
they fired, and so they left him. But he was en- 
tirely uninjured. 

Back of the Russell House in a southerly direc- 
tion the land slopes gently upward for a little way, 
and then rises to a considerable height. Near the 
foot of this hill a goodly number of Americans were 
posted, among them the men from Danvers. Ap- 
proaching along the slope of the hill, and parallel to 
the highway, was a strong British flanking party 
driving all before it. The Americans at that point 



I4O THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

were too few to openly resist, so retreated and en- 
tered the Russell House. Down the road came the 
main body under Percy, who, perceiving the Minute 
Men, advanced and opened fire. Russell being 
lame, was the last to reach the doorway, where two 
bullets felled him. The soldiers rushed in and 
pierced him, as he lay, with eleven bayonet thrusts. 
Then they entered the house, and within that little 
home enacted the bloodiest tragedy of the day. 
Here the seven men from Danvers were killed. 
The other Americans retreated to the cellar, and 
from the foot of the stairs threatened death to any 
Briton who should come down. One attempted to, 
and died on the way. Another died in the struggle 
overhead. Then the house was plundered in ac- 
cordance with Percy's method of warfare. 

After the British had passed, the Americans 
gathered at the home of Jason Russell. The dead 
from the yard and within the house were laid, side 
by side, in the little south room. There were twelve 
of them, and the blood from their wounds mingled 
in one common pool upon the floor. 1 

The highway from Jason Russell's house to the 
center of Arlington village proved to be the bloodiest 
half mile of all the Battle Road. Within this little 
stretch were killed twenty or more Americans, and 
as many or more Britons. And here, on the north- 
erly side of the road, not far from where the British 
convoy was captured in the forenoon, stood another 
Adams home. It was punctured with bullets, and 

1 King'6 Address and Smith's Address. The old home is still standing, though 
removed a few rods back from its original location. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL I9, I775. I41 

it was stained with blood, for the dead and dying 
and wounded were carried there after the combat- 
ants had passed on. 1 

One of the most unequal duels of any war was 
fought near here, between the venerable Samuel 
Whittemore, aged eighty years, and a number of 
British soldiers, acting as a flanking party, on the 
easterly side of the road. 

Whittemore lived with a son and grandchildren 
near Menotomy River, and had been aroused early 
in the morning by the passing of Smith's forces on 
their way to Concord. Mrs. Whittemore then 
commenced her preparations for flight to another 
son's house, near Mystic River, toward Medford. 
She supposed that her husband intended to accom- 
pany her, but was surprised to find him engaged in 
the warlike occupation of oiling his musket and 
pistols and sharpening his sword. In his younger 
days he had been an officer in the militia. She 
urged him to accompany her and the children. He 
refused, with the excuse that he was going "up town," 
as he expressed it. He did so, arriving there before 
the British had returned. When they reached the 
neighborhood of the present railroad crossing they 
halted, some of them opposite Mystic Street. Whit- 
temore had posted himself behind a stone wall, down 
Mystic Street about four hundred and fifty feet, 
near the corner of the present Chestnut Street. 
The distance seemed an easy range for him, and he 

1 It stood easterly of the old Town Hall. When the railroad went through, 
part of the house blocked the way and therefore the whole had to be demolished. 
The grand old elm that shaded the yard was destroyed in a gale, and a smaller 
one now takes its place. 



I42 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1 775. 

opened fire, killing the soldier he aimed at. They 
must have discovered his hiding place from the 
smoke-puff, and hastened to close in on him. With 
one pistol he killed the second Briton, and with his 
other fatally wounded a third one. In the mean- 
time the ever vigilant flank guard were attracted 
to the contest, and a ball from one of their muskets 
struck his head and rendered him unconscious. 
They rushed to the spot, and clubbed him with 
their muskets and pierced him with their bayonets 
until they felt sure that he was dead. Soon after 
they left him he was found by the Americans, and as 
he seemed to still live they bore him to the Cooper 
Tavern. Dr. Tufts of Medford was summoned, but 
declared it useless to dress so many wounds, as the 
aged man could not possibly survive. However, 
he was persuaded to try, and Whittemore lived 
eighteen more years, dying in 1793 at the age of 
ninety-eight. When he was recovering, his wife 
could not forbear asking him if he did not regret 
he had not remained with the rest of the family 
from the first. But the old hero, still suffering 
from his many wounds, replied, "No! I would run 
the same chance again." 1 

Four hundred feet farther along, at the corner of 
the Medford road, now Medford Street, stood the 
Cooper Tavern, Benjamin Cooper, landlord. He 
and his wife Rachel were mixing flip at the bar. 
Two of their guests, and possibly those two were 
all at the time, were Jason Winship, about forty-five 
years old, and his brother-in-law, Jabez Wyman, in 

1 Statement of F. H. Whittemore. Smith's Address, pages 43, 44. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775. 143 

his fortieth year. 1 Evidently they were non-com- 
batants, and as such expected to remain unmolested. 
But the soldiers were lashed to a fury by the recep- 
tion they had met along the road, particularly that 
of the last half mile. So many houses along the 
way had concealed Minute Men that about all were 
freely riddled with bullets, then ransacked, and 
then set on fire. Cooper Tavern was not considered 
by them as a privileged exception. More than a 
hundred bullets were fired into it through the doors 
and windows. Then the soldiers entered for their 
finishing strokes. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper escaped to 
the cellar, but Wyman and Winship, both unarmed, 
were stabbed in many places, their heads mauled 
until their skulls were broken and brains scattered 
about on the floor and walls. 2 

The death of these two unarmed men formed the 
climax of Arlington's part of the battle, for Percy's 
troops passed through the rest of the town and 
crossed Menotomy River into Cambridge without 
farther bloody incident. 

The Americans who were killed in Arlington 
were Jason Russell, Jason Winship, and Jabez 
Wyman of Arlington; Reuben Kennison of Bev- 
erly; Samuel Cook, Benjamin Daland, Ebenezer 
Goldthwait, Henry Jacobs, Perley Putnam, George 
South wick, and Jotham Webb of Danvers; Elias 
Haven of Dedham; William Flint, Thomas Hadley, 
Abednego Ramsdell, and Daniel Townsend of 
Lynn; William Polly and Henry Putnam of Med- 
ford; Lieut. John Bacon, Nathaniel Chamberlain, 

1 Cutter's Arlington and Paige's Cambridge. 
* Deposition of Rachel Cooper. 



144 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

Amos Mills, Sergt. Elisha Mills, and Jonathan 
Parker of Needham; Benjamin Peirce of Salem; and 
Jacob Coolidge of Watertown. These numbered 
twenty-five, and constituted half of all the Americans 
killed during the day. 

The wounded in Arlington were Samuel Whitte- 
more of Arlington; Nathaniel Cleaves, Samuel 
Woodbury, and William Dodge, 3d, of Beverly; 
Nathan Putnam and Dennison Wallace of Danvers; 
Israel Everett of Dedham; Eleazer Kingsbury, and 
a son of Dr. Tolman, of Needham. They num- 
bered nine out of the thirty-nine Americans wounded 
during the day. 

The British killed in Arlington were at least forty, 
more than half of all their loss during the day. 

The patriot dead of old Menotomy and her sister 
towns were gathered, and twelve of them placed on 
a sled and drawn by a yoke of oxen to the little 
village churchyard. There they were laid away in 
one large grave, side by side, in the same bloody 
garments they wore when they fell. One monu- 
ment marks the place. In the meeting house close 
by friends and relatives met on the following Sab- 
bath, and we are told that among them were Anna, 
infant granddaughter of Jason Russell, born on the 
day of the battle, and the little son of Jason Winship, 
who was brought to the altar for baptism. It must 
have been a sacred and patriotic consecration for all. 1 
Some of the other slain from distant towns were 
borne by their comrades back to their own homes. 2 

In Arlington, then, as the casualties show, the 

1 Smith's Address, page 52. 

2 King's Address, page 14. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, IJJ$. I45 

battle reached its climax. The savage ferocity of 
the personal encounters show to what a maddening 
frenzy the King's troops had been wrought. As in 
Lexington, Percy attempted the wholesale destruc- 
tion of the American homes by the torch, but so 
closely had he been followed by the ever-increasing 
Minute Men that his efforts were futile. His 
soldiers had the time to start the fires, but not the 
time to fan them into conflagrations, and thus old 
Menotomy escaped the fate of Lexington. 

Percy continued his march through the town of 
Arlington, crossing Menotomy River into Cambridge 
between 5 and 6 o'clock. The Minute Men hovered 
dangerously near his rear guard, so that he paused 
often long enough to wheel his two six-pounders 
about and prevent them from coming too near. 
They were entirely without fatal effect, but inspired 
at all times a wholesome respect, and kept the 
Americans farther away. 

Percy's Retreat through Cambridge. 

Occasionally the contest narrowed down to per- 
sonal encounters between two or more. It was near 
the Menotomy River, on the Cambridge side, that 
Lieutenant Bowman of Arlington overtook a strag- 
gler from the British ranks and engaged him in 
single combat. Both had guns, but neither one was 
loaded. The Briton rushed at Bowman with fixed 
bayonet, but the latter warded it off, and with his 
musket clubbed his antagonist to the ground. Then 
he took him prisoner. 1 

1 Dr. B. Cutter's Statement in Smith's Address, page 47. 



I46 THE BATTLE OF APRIL I9, 1775- 

Cambridge was the home of Capt. Samuel 
Thatcher's company of 77 men, but it is probable 
that Smith had encountered them as far back as 
Lincoln, for the muster roll in the Massachusetts 
Archives states that most of them marched twenty- 
eight miles, which would mean up into Lincoln and 
return, and to Charlestown Neck and return. 

Percy's march through Cambridge, from Menot- 
omy River to the Somerville line, measured nearly 
a mile and a quarter. The Provincials expected 
that he would return to Boston by the route he 
came out; that is, through Harvard Square over 
Charles River bridge into Brighton, thence through 
Roxbury, and along Boston Neck and into Boston. 
Anticipating as much, it was ordered that the bridge 
should be made impassable. But Percy deemed it 
wise to hurry on to Charlestown, trusting that 
General Gage would have an ample force there to 
receive and protect him. It was several miles 
nearer, and with no possibility of dismantled bridges 
to reconstruct for his troops to pass over. Nor 
should it be forgotten that Percy's original plan was 
to remain that night, at least, in Harvard Square, 
but he had not counted on such intense hostility 
from so large an army of Minute Men in open re- 
bellion. He deemed it wiser, therefore, to move 
constantly forward toward the main army. 

This mile and a quarter in Cambridge proved to 
be one of continual battle also. The Americans 
were ever on the alert, growing more and more 
active as they realized more and more the real 
meaning of the invasion. The sight of many of 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775, I47 

the British soldiers loaded down with plunder; the 
curling smoke and flames from American dwellings; 
the dying and the dead, some of them horribly 
mutilated, scattered all along the highway, were at 
last inspiring an intense feeling of hatred and a 
longing for a satisfying vengeance. Percy's army 
experienced practically the same sensations. Trained 
as soldiers to the usages of open warfare, they 
deemed the frontier method of fighting as unfair 
and cowardly. They held in contempt the man 
who should remain concealed in safety and shoot 
down one who was compelled to remain in the open. 
Undoubtedly, too, the memory of a comrade, lying 
at the North Bridge, with that ugly hatchet death- 
wound in the head, aroused the most savage instincts 
that seemed to cry for brutal retaliation. Whitte- 
more and Wyman and Winship seem to have been 
victims of vengeance rather than of war. 

The Americans did not profit much by the lessons 
which they had received earlier in the day, for they 
again fell victims to the British flankers. Quite a 
number had gathered near the home of Jacob 
Watson, situated on the southerly side of the high- 
way near the present Rindge Avenue. Their fragile 
security was a pile of empty casks, not far from the 
road, from behind which they awaited the oncoming 
of the British. But the flank guard came up in 
their rear, unobserved, and completely surprised 
them, killing Maj. Isaac Gardner of Brookline, a 
favorite son of that town, and the first graduate of 
Harvard College to fall in the war, and two Cam- 
bridge men, — John Hicks, nearly fifty years old, 



I48 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

and Moses Richardson, fifty-three years old; also 
near the same place another Cambridge man, Wil- 
liam Marcy, as tradition says, 1 of feeble intellect 
and a non-combatant. He was sitting on the fence 
evidently enjoying the military spectacle, and per- 
haps good-naturedly cheering on the marching Red 
Coats. His friendly demonstrations were entirely 
mistaken for shouts of derision. In the midst of 
his simple pleasure some Briton esteemed it his duty 
to kill him as an enemy of the King. The British 
loss at this place was but one killed. 

On they marched, wheeling to the left, into Beech 
Street, a thoroughfare about seven hundred feet long, 
and thence out of Cambridge and into Somerville. 

Soon after this the wife of John Hicks, whose home 
is still standing (1921) at the corner of Dunster and 
Winthrop streets, fearing for his safety, sent her son, 
fourteen years of age, to look for him. He had been 
absent since morning, and undoubtedly the noise of 
battle, a mile and a quarter away, coming across the 
fields, bore a sad burden of prophecy. Her misgivings 
were well founded, for the son found his father by 
the roadside where he fell, and near him the others. 

The body of Isaac Gardner was taken to Brookline 
and there buried the next day. The remains of John 
Hicks, Moses Richardson, and William Marcy were 
immediately taken to the little churchyard near the 
Common, a mile from where they fell. They were 
buried in one grave, without coffins or shrouds even. 
A son of Moses Richardson, standing by, realizing 
that the earth was to fall directly on their faces, 

1 Paige's History of Cambridge, page 414. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775. J 49 

jumped down into the grave and arranged the cape 
of his father's coat, that it might shield him some- 
what from the falling earth. 

We may wonder now at that hasty burial, without 
much, if any, ceremony; but let us associate with 
it the trail of the invading army, and of what seemed 
possible for the morrow, if that army should return, 
greatly reinforced, for vengeance. Boston was not far 
away, and General Gage even then might be prepar- 
ing to move on Cambridge with a force sufficiently 
large for its subjection. The Americans did not fully 
realize their own power or their own courage, not 
even as well as General Gage did, who wisely decreed 
to remain in Boston and Charlestown, and decide 
later whether to pursue an aggressive or a defensive 
campaign. The spontaneous rousing of the country 
was an impressive one for the British commander. 

It had evidently been Percy's plan to camp on 
Cambridge Common that night, and while awaiting 
expected reinforcements, or upon their arrival, lay 
the buildings of Harvard College, and others, in 
ruins. Such a course would have been in harmony 
with his warfare in Lexington and Arlington, and 
serve, as he thought, as a practical lesson for those in 
rebellion, of the disposition and readiness of their 
King to wreak a swift and terrible vengeance upon 
his enemies. 1 But Percy's plans were rudely disar- 
ranged, and he commenced to realize that he was 
really being driven back to Boston. 

1 See Thanksgiving Sermon in the Camp at Roxbury Nov. 23, 1775, by Rev. 
Isaac Mansfield, Jr., chaplain to General Thomas's regiment. Mr. Mansfield 
fully believed such plans to have been made, and states that his information 
came so direct that he could not hesitate to accept it, but did not feel at liberty 
to publish the name of his informer. 



I50 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 



Percy's Retreat through Somerville. 

It was about half past 6 o'clock when Percy left 
Cambridge and entered the present city of Somer- 
ville, crossing the line at the corner of Beech and 
Elm streets. Just about at the Somerville line the 
battle was hotly renewed. Near the corner of Beech 
Street, and on the easterly side of Elm Street, stood 
the house of Timothy Tufts. Here Percy halted his 
army while his two field pieces were dragged up the 
hill back of the Tufts house and discharged toward 
his pursuers, with the usual result of his cannonading, 
— none killed. From out a grove a little way up the 
road came a scattering fire of American sharpshooters, 
and in consequence quite a number of Britons were 
killed. They fell in the road, just in front of the 
Tufts house, and a tablet there marks where they 
were buried. 

Along Elm Street to Oak Street, and then con- 
tinuing in Somerville Avenue, was their route when 
the march was resumed. At the foot of Laurel 
Street on Somerville Avenue was then a little pond. 
Into that many weary Britons threw themselves, 
some for the refreshing plunge, others to quench 
their thirst. 1 

Their march was continued rapidly now, and in 
consequence the fatalities on the American side were 
slight, if any, on the road from the Tufts house 
through Bow Street, for that was a part of Battle 
Road then, to Union Square. From the latter 
place they continued through Washington Street, 

1 Booth, in Somerville Journal, April, 1875. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- I5I 

where the American sharpshooters had a grand 
opportunity to renew their havoc. Washington 
Street skirts along the westerly foot of Prospect Hill, 
the summit of which commands easily a stretch of 
highway for more than half a mile. Many were 
killed and wounded, some of the latter of whom 
were taken into the house then standing at the 
corner of Washington and Prospect streets. Here 
Percy paused long enough to train his two field 
pieces up the road, and again with his usual lack of 
fatal results. But he checked the Americans. 

A little way farther along on the northerly side of 
the road stood the home of Samuel Shed. Percy's 
troops halted there for the few moments necessary 
to turn his field pieces on his pursuers again. While 
there, one of the Britons, ambitious for plunder, 
entered the Shed home, and, finding a bureau or 
highboy filled with household effects, commenced 
the work of selecting what he desired. It took him 
too long, for his companions passed on and left him 
still too busy to notice their departure or the coming 
of the Americans. Bullets came through the window, 
one of which killed him, and three riddled the old 
bureau, spattering his blood over it and on the 
floor. 1 

A few rods farther the grassy slope of Prospect 
Hill descended in a southerly direction to Washing- 
ton Street, then called the Cambridge Road. James 
Miller, about sixty-six years old, stood there await- 
ing the British. With him was a companion, and 

1 The old highboy was in existence in 1910, and treasured by a Somerville 
man, Francis Tufts, to whom it descended. I have seen it, with its blood stains 
and three bullet holes. 



152 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775. 

both fired with deadly effect, again and again, as 
the British marched by in the road below. They 
were discovered finally, and Miller's companion 
urged him to retreat. 

"Come, Miller, we've got to go." 

"I'm too old to run," replied Miller, and he re- 
mained, only to be pierced with a volley of thirteen 
bullets. 1 His home was but a short distance down 
the road, and is still standing, next to the house on 
the easterly corner of Washington and Franklin 
streets. 

Miller was the only American killed in Somerville, 
as the British were in too full retreat to act very 
much on the aggressive. Their loss was consider- 
able, however, along the entire Battle Road, for the 
Minute Men were exceedingly active in the rear 
and on the northerly side of the road, particularly. 

The policy of property destruction was continued 
by Percy through Somerville. The limited time at 
his command did not allow of very thorough work, 
but he accomplished something. The estate of 
James Miller, whom they killed on the slope of 
Prospect Hill, was damaged to the extent of £4, 12s. 
Ebenezer Shed lost his house, barn, and another 
building valued at £140, and the damage to his 
crop, fences, etc., he estimated at £279, 3s., 2d. The 
widow of Abigal Shed suffered to some extent in the 
same way. 2 

1 E. C. Booth in an article on Somerville, in Drake's History of Middlesex 
County, Vol. 2, page 312. 

2 J. F. Hunnewell, A Century of Town Life, page 153. 




Home of James Miller, Washington Street, near Franklin Street, 
Somerville. Still standing. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, IJJ$. 153 



Percy's Arrival in Charlestown. 

The sun set at 7 o'clock on that nineteenth day 
of April, in 1775. 1 It never rose again on Middlesex 
County under kingly rule. Percy must have been 
in the vicinity of Union Square, Somerville, at that 
particular moment. The pauses for his artillery 
demonstration; the destruction of the few build- 
ings; the killing of Miller; and the hurried march 
to the Charlestown line did not occupy more than 
half an hour. It was just dark enough for the 
musket flashes to be seen across the marshes and 
across the waters of the Charles River to the Boston 
shore, where were grouped anxious watchers await- 
ing the news of battle. 

Percy's thirty-six rounds for each of his soldiers 
had been about all expended. He describes the fire 
all around his marching column as "incessant," 
coming from behind stone walls, and from houses 
which he at first supposed had been evacuated. 2 

Charlestown Common, now Sullivan Square, was 
soon reached, and his column gladly wheeled to the 
right and marched up Bunker Hill. As they did so, 
a mile away, on top of Winter Hill, in Somerville, 
were just then arriving three hundred more Ameri- 
cans, who had marched from Salem under Col. 
Timothy Pickering. They were half an hour late 
to be particularly effective. No blame can be at- 
tached to them for that, for there were thousands of 
other Minute Men from distant towns who were also 

1 Low's Almanack, Boston, 1775. 

2 See his report to General Gage. 



154 T,,E BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

late for April 19, but who were in ample time to 
join the besieging army on April 20. 

Opposite Charlestown Common, now Sullivan 
Square, on the corner of the road to the Penny 
Ferry which crossed the Mystic River to Everett, 1 
stood the home of William Barber, sea captain. His 
family consisted of his wife, Anne Hay, and their 
thirteen children. One of them, Edward, fourteen 
years old, sat at the window looking out upon the 
brilliant pageant of marching soldiers in the road. 
Many of the soldiers must have seen him, for he 
was not in hiding. One did, at all events, and with 
that thirst for killing some one, even though but a 
boy, shot him and saw him fall back into the room 
dead. Thus Edward Barber became Charlcstown's 
martyr of April 19, and the last of the slain on that 
day. 

While Charlestown did not officially contribute to 
the organized Minute Men who were pursuing Percy, 
yet many individuals must have been in the Ameri- 
can ranks, for in the afternoon General Gage wrote 
to James Russell of Charlestown that he had been 
informed people of that town had gone out armed 
to oppose His Majesty's troops, and that if a single 
man more went out armed, the most disagreeable 
consequences might be expected. The people of 
Charlestown indeed had reason to be in terror, 
surrounded as they were by the soldiers, frenzied 
by their disastrous retreat from Lexington. The 
selectmen arranged with Percy an armistice, agreeing 
that the troops should not be attacked, and that 

1 Everett was then a part of Maiden. 



THE BATTM 01 APKIL [9, !775« / ' ' 

assistance should be given in getting then & 
the ferry to Boston, provk ild not attack 

the citizen-, roy their hornet. This ag 

ment seems to have been kept in good faitl 

both parti':-.. 1 British officers walked up a 

the streets, directing the keep within 

doo: 

Percy's force remained on Bunker Hill until 
arrangements were completed for their trip a- 
the Charles River to Boston. '1 
sent over first, be .eyed by the boat! of the 

"Somerset" man-of-war, which itill lay thi 

did wi/;r. V <:;'■.:<: 

General Gage tent pickets from Bosi 

from the loth and 64th R' lo g *ard duty 

in Charlestown. 2 

Gen. William } I 
can forces, a/ the offic Minute 

at the foot of Prospect Hill, in Somerville, ■ 
council of war. . 

a guard to be posted near, and sentir. g the 

road l ville, 

and Cambridg rt in Chi 

town Neck. The remainder of the force WZ 
back to Cambridge, 3 which place pj : for 

a while the headquarter. rican Arn 

1 r>. 

» De B ■ Oiary ol a B .'77>- 



I56 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775. 



Americans Killed, Wounded and Missing. 

Acton. — Killed: Capt. Isaac Davis, James Hay- 
ward, Abner Hosmer. Wounded: Luther Blan- 
chard and Ezekiel Davis. 

Arlington. — Killed: Jason Russell, Jason Winship, 
Jabez Wyman. Wounded: Samuel Whittemore. 

Bedford. — Killed: Captain Jonathan Willson. 
Wounded: Job Lane. 

Beverly. — Killed: Reuben Kennison. Wounded: 
Nathaniel Cleaves, William Dodge, 3d, Samuel 
Woodbury. 

Billerica. — Wounded: Timothy Blanchard, John 
Nichols. 

Brookline. — Killed: Maj. Isaac Gardner. 

Cambridge. — Killed: John Hicks, William Marcy, 
Moses Richardson. Missing: Samuel Frost, Seth 
Russell. 

Concord. — Wounded: Capt. Nathan Barrett, 
Jonas Brown, Capt. Charles Miles, Capt. George 
Minot, Abel Prescott, Jr. 

Charlestown. — Killed : Edward Barber. 

Chelmsford. — Wounded: Oliver Barron, Aaron 
Chamberlain. 

Danvers. — Killed: Samuel Cook, Benjamin Da- 
land, Ebenezer Goldthwait, Henry Jacobs, Perley 
Putnam, George Southwick, Jotham Webb. 
Wounded: Nathan Putnam, Dennison Wallis. 
Missing: Joseph Bell. 

Dedham. — Killed: Elias Haven. Wounded: Is- 
rael Everett. 

Framingham. — Wounded: Daniel Hemenway. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775. J 57 

Lexington. — Killed: John Brown, Samuel Hadley, 
Caleb Harrington, Jonathan Harrington, Jr., Jede- 
diah Munroe, Robert Munroe, Isaac Muzzy, Jonas 
Parker, John Raymond, Nathaniel Wyman. 
Wounded: Francis Brown, Joseph Comee, Prince 
Estabrook, Nathaniel Farmer, Ebenezer Munroe, 
Jr., Jedediah Munroe (killed later), Timothy Mun- 
roe, 1 Solomon Pierce, John Robbins, John Tidd, 
Thomas Winship. 

Lincoln. — Wounded: Joshua Brooks. 

Lynn. — Killed: William Flint, Thomas Hadley, 
Abednego Ramsdell, Daniel Townsend. Wounded: 
Joshua Felt, Timothy Monroe. Missing: Josiah 
Breed. 

Medford. — Killed: William Polly, Henry Putnam. 

Needham. — Killed: Lieut. John Bacon, Nathaniel 
Chamberlain, Amos Mills, Sergt. Elisha Mills, 
Jonathan Parker. Wounded: Eleazer Kingsbury, 
Tolman (son of Dr. Tolman). 

Newton. — Wounded: Noah Wiswell. 

Roxbury. — Missing: Elijah Seaver. 

Salem. — Killed: Benjamin Pierce. 

Somerville. — Killed: James Miller. 

Sudbury. — Killed: Josiah Haynes, Asahel Reed. 
Wounded: Joshua Haynes, Jr. 

Stow. — Wounded: Daniel Conant. 

Watertown. — Killed : Joseph Coolidge. 

Woburn. — Killed: Asahel Porter, DanielThompson. 
Wounded : Jacob Bacon, Johnson, George Reed. 

Total number killed, 49; wounded, 42; missing, 
5; total loss, 96. 

1 See Hudson's History of Lexington, revised edition. Vol. II, page 466. 



I58 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 



British Killed, Wounded, Prisoners and 
Missing. 1 

Return of the Commission, Non-Commission Officers, Drum- 
mers, Rank and File, killed and wounded, prisoners and missing, 
on the 19th of April, 1775. 

4th or King's Own Regiment, Lieutenant Knight, killed. Lieu- 
tenant Gould, wounded and prisoner. 3 Serjeants, 1 Drummer, 
wounded. 7 Rank and File killed, 21 wounded, 8 missing. 

5th Regiment, Lieutenant Thomas Baker, Lieutenant William 
Cox, Lieutenant Thomas Hawkshaw, wounded. 5 Rank and 
File killed. 15 wounded, 1 missing. 

10th Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith, Captain 
Lawrence Parsons, Lieutenant Wald. Kelly, Ensign Jeremiah 
Lester, wounded. 1 Rank and File killed, 13 wounded, 1 missing. 

18th Regiment. 1 Rank and File killed, 4 wounded, 1 missing. 

23rd Regiment. Lieutenant Colonel Bery Bernard, wounded. 
4 Rank and File killed, 26 wounded, 6 missing. 

38th Regiment. Lieutenant William Sutherland, wounded. 1 
Sergeant wounded. 4 Rank and File killed, 11 wounded. 

43rd Regiment. Lieutenant Hull, wounded and prisoner. 4 
Rank and File killed, 5 wounded, 2 missing. 

47th Regiment. Lieutenant Donald McCloud, Ensign Henry 
Baldwin, wounded. 1 Sergeant wounded. 5 Rank and File 
killed, 21 wounded. 

1 I am under obligations to the Military Secretary of the English War Office 
for a copy of the official returns of General Gage of his losses on April 19, 1775, 
accompanied by the following: — 

"WAR OFFICE 

"The Military Secretary begs to inform Mr. Frank W. Coburn with reference 
to his letter of the 27th November last, addressed to the late Commander in 
Chief, that the only information available on the subject of the casualties sus- 
tained by the British Troops during the action at Lexington on 19th April, 1775, 
is contained in the Lords' Gazette of 6-10 June, 1775, an extract of which is 
enclosed. 

"Mr. Frank W. Coburn, "\ 

"Lexington, Massachusetts." ..„. _ 

War Office, 

"25th Sept., 1901." 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL I9, I775. 159 

52nd Regiment. I Sergeant missing. 3 Rank and File killed, 
2 wounded. 

59th Regiment. 3 Rank and File killed, 3 wounded. 

Marines. Captain Souter, Second Lieutenant McDonald, 
wounded. Second Lieutenant Isaac Potter, missing. 1 Sergeant 
killed, 2 wounded, 1 missing. 1 Drummer killed. 25 Rank 
and File killed, 36 wounded, 5 missing. 

Total. 1 Lieutenant killed. 2 Lieutenant Colonels wounded. 
2 Captains wounded. 9 Lieutenants wounded. 1 Lieutenant 
missing. 2 Ensigns wounded. 1 Sergeant killed, 7 wounded, 2 
missing. 1 Drummer killed, I wounded. 62 Rank and File 
killed, 157 wounded, 24 missing. 

N. B. Lieutenant Isaac Potter reported to be wounded and 

taken prisoner. 

Signed 

Tho. Gage. 

Lieutenant Hull of the 43d Regiment, wounded 
traveling in a chaise, fell behind the troops, again 
wounded, and carried into the house of Samuel 
Butterfield in Arlington, where he died two weeks 
later. 1 

The forces participating were about 1,800 British, 
well organized and well commanded, opposed by 
about thirty-seven hundred and thirty-three Ameri- 
cans, without effective organization and without a 
real commanding officer. 2 

Distances marched by the British Soldiers. 

I have measured the routes of the various detach- 
ments and am enabled to give them as follows, in 
each case of Smith's force from the shore of Charles 
River in Cambridge, out to Concord and back to 

1 Smith's West Cambridge Address. 

2 In some muster rolls the names of the slain are omitted, which, if counted 
here, would increase this total a little. 



l6o THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

the shore of Charles River in Charlestown. The 
route of Percy's force was from School Street, 
Boston, out through Roxbury, etc., to the high school 
in Lexington, and return to the shore of Charles 
River, in Charlestown. My cyclometer is divided 
into eighty-eight fractions of a mile, each one of 
sixty feet. 

Three companies under Capt. Lawrence Parsons 
to the home of Colonel Barrett, beyond North 
Bridge, Concord, and return, 39^ miles. 

Three companies under Capt. Walter Sloane 
Lawrie to the North Bridge, Concord, and return, 
36^ miles. 

Force of about one hundred men under Capt. 
Mundy Pole to the South Bridge, Concord, and 
return, 36H miles. 

Main division under Lieutenant Colonel Smith to 
Concord village, and return, 34H miles. 

Earl Percy's reinforcement to the high school in 
Lexington, and return, 25^ miles. 

That of his baggage train captured and destroyed 
in Arlington, H 5 ^ miles. 

English Friends after the Battle. 

As in the beginning of this little history we grate- 
fully chronicled the warm and sympathetic friend- 
ship for America that permeated the British Nation, 
and particularly the councils of Parliament, so as 
we close we may glance across the ocean again to 
see if that same friendship can survive the shock of 
rebellion against the King. In quarrels of a family 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775. l6l 

nature one does not feel unpatriotic if he happens to 
espouse the cause of the minority. So it was with 
John Home Tooke. 1 His intense friendship for this 
part of the British Kingdom was evident at the start, 
and reached a decided climax after the battle. He 
was a member of the Constitutional Society, and 
during an adjournment or recess of a meeting held 
June 7 proposed that a subscription should be im- 
mediately entered into "for raising the sum of one 
hundred pounds, to be applied to the relief of the 
widows, orphans, and aged parents, of our beloved 
American fellow-subjects, who, faithful to the char- 
acter of Englishmen, preferring death to slavery, 
were, for that reason only, inhumanly murdered by 
the King's troops at or near Lexington and Con- 
cord." The money was raised and placed at the 
disposal of Benjamin Franklin, to distribute in 
accordance with its purpose. The resolution was 
forwarded to several newspapers, and its publication 
naturally aroused considerable surprise and painful 
comment. 

Mr. Home was arrested and tried for "a false, 
wicked, malicious, scandalous and seditious libel 
of, and concerning, his said Majesty's government, 
and the employment of his troops," etc. 2 He was 
found guilty and sentenced to a fine of £200; to be 
imprisoned for twelve months; and that he find 
securities in £800 for his good behavior for three 
years. 3 

1 At that time his name was simply John Home. 

2 "The Battle of Lexington as looked at in London before Chief Justice Mans- 
field and a jury in the Trial of John Home, Esq. By John Winslow." 

> See Memoirs of John Home Tooke, by Alexander Stephens, London, 1813. 
Vol. I, pages 431, and following. 



l62 THE BATTLE OF APRIL IQ, I775. 

I have not read of any other Briton punished to 
that extent at that time for friendship for his fellow 
subjects on this side of the ocean. There were 
many as sincere and devoted to the cause of the 
colonists as Home, and perhaps as openly, too, but 
he happened to be the one selected to bear the 
heavy burden of his King's displeasure. 

On a much larger and more impressive scale was 
the petition of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Com- 
mons of the City of London, in Common Council 
assembled, to the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in 
Parliament assembled. It was presented in October, 
and recited how that body had "taken into the most 
serious consideration the present distressed situation 
of our fellow subjects in America," and concluded 
with the prayer that the House would be "pleased 
to adopt such measures for the healing of the present 
unhappy disputes between the mother country and 
the colonies, as may be speedy, permanent and 
honourable." 

But the wise counsels of the great city did not 
prevail in the House of Parliament, for that body 
simply ordered their petition to "lie upon the 
table." 1 

So was fought the opening battle of the American 
Revolution, the beginning of that long struggle 
which rent in twain the great English Nation and 
gave birth to these United States. 

1 Parliamentary History of England, Vol. XVIII, col. 698. 



APPENDICES 



Appendix No 



Lexington Men. 
As no claim for services on April 19 was filed with 
the Commonwealth, I have no official Roll. Hudson, 
in his "History of Lexington," gives the names of 
120 as constituting the company, and in the genea- 
logical department of the same work gives several 
others. In the depositions of participants published 
in the "Journals of Each Provincial Congress of 
Massachusetts, 1774-5," are quite a number who 
named themselves as of Parker's company, one of 
them being Phillip Russell; and Moses Harrington, 
in the same, places "Jr." after his name. In this 
company I have also included the two Woburn men, 
Robert Douglass and Sylvanus Wood, who joined 
Parker on the Common at break of day, and ac- 
cepted his invitation to become members for that 
occasion. 



i66 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 



Complete Roster of Captain John Parker's Company 
of 144 Men. 

Only 77 of these were in the Morning Engagement. 1 



Officers. 



Captain, John Parker 
Lieutenant, William Tidd 
Ensign, Robert Munroe 
Ensign, Joseph Simonds 
Clerk, Daniel Harrington 
Orderly Sergt., William Munroe 
Sergeant, Francis Brown 
Sergeant, Ebenezer White 



Corporal, Joel Viles 
Corporal, Samuel Sanderson 
Corporal, John Munroe 
Corporal, Ebenezer Parker 
Drummer, William Diamond 
Fifer, Jonathan Harrington 
(son of Jonathan) 



Isaac Blodgett 

Ebenezer Bowman 

Francis Bowman 

John Bridge, Jr. 

Joseph Bridge 

James Brown 

John Brown 

Solomon Brown 

John Buckman 

Eli Burdoo 

John Chandler 

John Chandler, Jr. 

Abijah Child 

Joseph Comee 

Thomas Cutler 

Robert Douglass of Captain 
Belknap's Woburn company. 
(In Captain Parker's com- 
pany, April 19.) 

Isaac Durant 



Privates. 

Prince Estabrook 

Nathaniel Farmer 

Nathan Fessenden 

Thomas Fessenden 

Dr. Joseph Fisk 

Isaac Green 

William Grimes 

Caleb Harrington 

Jeremiah Harrington 

John Harrington 

Jonathan Harrington, then 

called "Jr.," but son of 

Henry. 
Jonathan Harrington, 3d 
Moses Harrington 
Moses Harrington, 3d 
Moses Harrington, Jr. 
Thaddeus Harrington 
Thomas Harrington 
William Harrington 



1 See Special Roll, facing p. 60. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL I9, 1775. 



167 



Isaac Hastings 

Samuel Hastings 

Samuel Hastings, Jr. 

Benjamin Hadley 

Ebenezer Hadley 

Samuel Hadley 

Thomas Hadley, Jr. 

John Hosmer 

Micah Hagar 

Amos Lock 

Benjamin Lock 

Ebenezer Lock 

Reuben Lock 

Joseph Loring 

Jonathan Loring 

Amos Marrett 

Daniel Mason 

Joseph Mason 

Abner Mead 

Benjamin Merriam 

William Merriam 

Asa Munroe 

Ebenezer Munroe, son of 

Robert. 
Ebenezer Munroe, then called 

"Jr.," but son of Jonas. 
Edmund Munroe 
George Munroe 
Jedediah Munroe 
John Munroe, Jr. 
John Munroe, 2d 
Nathan Munroe 
Philemon Munroe 
Stephen Munroe 
William Munroe, Jr. 
William Munroe, 3d 
Nathaniel Mulliken 
Amos Muzzy 



Isaac Muzzy 
John Muzzy 
Thaddeus Muzzy 
Jonas Parker 
Jonas Parker, Jr. 
Thaddeus Parker 
John Parkhurst 
Nathaniel Parkhurst 
Solomon Pierce 
Asahel Porter 
Israel Porter 
John Raymond 
Hammond Reed 
Joshua Reed 
Joshua Reed, Jr. 
Josiah Reed 
Nathan Reed 
Robert Reed 
Thaddeus Reed 
William Reed 
John Robbins 
Thomas Robbins 
Joseph Robinson 
Phillip Russell 
Benjamin Sampson 
Elijah Sanderson 
Ebenezer Simonds 
Joshua Simonds 
Abraham Smith 
David Smith 
Ebenezer Smith 
Jesse Smith 
John Smith 
Jonathan Smith 
Josiah Smith 
Joseph Smith 
Phineas Smith 
Samuel Smith 



1 68 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775. 



Thaddeus Smith 
William Smith 
Simeon Snow 
Asahel Steams 
Phineas Stearns 
Jonas Stone 
Jonas Stone, Jr. 
Benjamin Tidd 
John Tidd 
Samuel Tidd 
Joseph Underwood 
Benjamin Wellington 



Enoch Wellington 

Timothy Wellington 

John Williams 

John Winship 

Samuel Winship 

Thomas Winship 

Sylvanus Wood of Captain 
Walker's Woburn company. 
(In Captain Parker's com- 
pany, April 19.) 

James Wyman 

Nathan Wyman 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 169 



Appendix No. 2 



Concord Men. 
In the vicinity of Concord were two regiments, one 
of militia under Colonel James Barrett of Concord, 
with Ezekiel How of Sudbury as lieutenant colonel, 
and one of Minute Men under Colonel Abijah Pierce 
of Lincoln, with Thomas Nixon of Framingham as 
lieutenant colonel, and John Buttrick of Concord as 
major. These two regiments did not appear as such 
at the North Bridge, the entire force there at the 
opening being under the command of Barrett, who 
directed the advance to be led by Major Buttrick. 
Quite a number of the companies of each were in 
line, but not in regimental formation. 

Colonel, James Barrett of Con- Captain, Samuel Farrar of 

cord Lincoln 

Lieut. Colonel, Ezekiel How of Captain, Moses Stone of Sud- 

Sudbuiy bury 

Captain, Nathan Barrett of Captain, Aaron Haynes of 

Concord Sudbury 

Captain, George Minot of Con- Colonel, Abjiah Pierce of Lin- 
cord coin 

Captain, Joseph Robins of Lieut. Colonel, Thomas Nixon 

Acton of Framingham 

Captain, John Moore of Bed- Major, John Buttrick of Con- 
ford cord 



iyo 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL I9, 1775- 



Second Major, Jacob Miller of Captain, Isaac Davis of Acton 

Holliston Captain, William Smith of 

Adjutant, Thomas Hurd of Lincoln 

East Sudbury Captain, Jonathan Willson of 

Captain, David Brown of Con- Bedford 

cord Captain, John Nixon of Sudbury 

Captain, Charles Miles of Captain, George Minot 

Concord Captain, Nathan Barrett 

There were four Concord companies present, com- 
manded, respectively, by Captains Brown, Miles, 
Minot, and Barrett. No claims for service were 
filed with the Commonwealth in their behalf, there- 
fore I can present no official Rolls. I found in Tol- 
man's "Concord Minute Men" a roster of Brown's 
company, and for those constituting Miles's com- 
pany I am indebted to the rare original manuscript 
belonging to the late Dr. Charles E. Clark of Lynn, 
and which was sold at auction by C. F. Libbie & 
Co., in Boston, Jan. 15, 1901, for $275. 



Captain David Brown's Company. 
Entered the Contest at Concord North Bridge. 



Captain, David Brown 
Lieutenant, David Wheeler 
Lieutenant, Silas Man 
Sergeant, Abishai Brown 
Sergeant, Emerson Cogswell 
Sergeant, Amos Wood 
Corporal, Amos Barrett 
Corporal, Stephen Barrett 
Corporal, Reuben Hunt 
Corporal, Stephen Jones 
Fifer, John Buttrick, Jr. 



Phineas Alin 
Humphrey Barrett, Jr. 
Elias Barron 
Jonas Bateman 
John Brown, Jr. 
Jonas Brown 
Purchase Brown 
Abiel Buttrick 
Daniel Buttrick 
Oliver Buttrick 
Tilly Buttrick 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, IJJ$. 



171 



Willard Buttrick 
William Buttrick 
Daniel Cray 
Amos Davis 
Abraham Davis 
Joseph Davis, Jr. 
Joseph Dudley 
Charles Flint 
Edward Flint 
Edward Flint, Jr. 
Nathan Flint 
Ezekiel Hagar 
Isaac Hoar 
David Hubbare 
John Laughton 



David Melvin, Jr. 
William Mercer 
John Minot, Jr. 
Thomas Prescott 
Bradbury Robinson 
Ebenezer Stowe 
Nathan Stowe 
Thomas Thurston 
Jotham Wheeler 
Peter Wheeler 
Zachary Wheeler 
Ammi White 
John White 
Jonas Whitney 
Aaron Wright 



Captain Charles Miles' 's Company. 
Entered the Contest at Concord North Bridge. 



Captain, Charles Miles 
Lieutenant, Jonathan Farrar 
Lieutenant, Francis Wheeler 
Sergeant, David Hartwell 
Sergeant, Amos Hosmer 
Sergeant, Silas Walker 
Sergeant, Edward Richardson 
Drummer, Daniel Brown 
Fifer, Samuel Darby 
Corporal, Simeon Hayward 
Corporal, Nathan Peirce 
Corporal, James Cogswell 
Joseph Cleasby 
Simeon Buridge 
Israel Barratt 
Daniel Hore 
Ephraim Brooks 
William Buridge 
Joseph Stratton 



Stephan Brooks 
Simon Wheeler 
Ebenezer Johnson 
Stephan Starns 
William Brown 
Jeremiah Clark 
Jacob Ames 
Benjamin Hosmer 
Joel Hosmer 
Samuel Wheeler 
Warham Wheeler 
Oliver Wheeler 
Jesse Hosmer 
Amos Darby 
John Corneall 
Levi Hosmer 
Solomon Rice 
Thaddeas Bancraft 
Amos Melven 



172 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775. 

Samuel Melven Barnabas Davis 

Nathan Dudley Major Raley 

Oliver Parlin Edward Wilkens 

John Flagg Daniel Farrar 

Samuel Emery Oliver Harris 

John Cole Samuel Jewet 

Daniel Cole Daniel Wheat 



Captain George Minot's Company. 
Entered the Contest at Concord North Bridge. 

Names and number of men unknown. 

Captain Nathan Barrett's Company. 
Entered the Contest at Concord North Bridge. 

Names and number of men unknown. 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, IJ7$. 



1 73 



Appendix No. 3 . 



Acton Men. 

Captain Isaac Davis's Company. 
Entered the Contest at Concord North Bridge. 

Davis was killed and the command fell to his 
lieutenant, John Hayward, who became captain. 
The following official Roll does not include Acton's 
slain: — 

A list of the names of a minute-Company under the Command 
of Captain John Hayward in Colonel Abijah Pierce's Regiment, 
who entered the Service nineteenth of April One Thousand Seven 
Hundred and Seventy Five. — Lexington Alarms, XII, 116 



{Captain, Isaac Davis, killed) 
{Succeeding) Captain, John 

Hayward 
Lieutenant, John Heald 
Second Lieutenant, David For- 

bush 
Sergeant, William Macksfield 
Sergeant, Oliver Emerson 
Corporal, John Davis 
Corporal, David Davis 
Corporal, John Barker 
Thomas Darby 
John Harris 
Ebenezer Heald 
James Davis 



Phillip Piper 
Reuben Low 
Benjn Hayward 
Simon Hunt, Jur. 
Elijah Davice 
Ephraim Forbush 
Abraham Hapgood 
Ezekiel Davis 
Ebenezer Edwards 
John Robbins 
Joseph Barker 
William Johnson 
Reuben Davis 
Joseph Reed 
Stephen Shepherd 



174 THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 

Thomas Thorp Joseph Chaffin 

Solomon Smith Samuel Tempel 

Jonas Hunt Abraham Young 

Moses Wood Francis Barker, Drummer 

Ephraim Billings Luther Blanchard, Fifer 

Acting Captain Lieutenant Simon Hunt's Company. 
Entered the Contest at Concord North Bridge. 

Names and number of men unknown. 

Captain Joseph Robin's Company. 
Entered the Contest at Concord North Bridge. 

Names and number of men unknown. 

Captain, Joseph Robins Acting Captain, Simon Hunt 

{Officer) Israel Heald Ensign, Thomas Noyes 

(Officer) Robert Chaffin 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL I9, I775. 



175 



Appendix No. 4 



Bedford Men. 

Captain John Moore's Company. 
Entered the Contest at Concord North Bridge. 

The Account of Capt. John Moore, Commander of the Military- 
Company, in Bedford, for himself & those of his Company num- 
bered in the following Roll for time & Travel Spent in the Serv- 
ice & Defence of the Colony, on & Directly after the alarm on the 
Nineteenth Day of April last: Exhibiting, in Destinct Columns 
against Each mans name, the number of miles he Travelled, The 
allowance thereof, The number of Days he was in the Service, and 
the wages thereof; with the Sum total of the Whole; agreeable 
to the Resolve of the Honl Court published in the news-papers 
and a vacant Column for Deductions, if any shall be made. — 
Lexington Alarms, XIII, 0. 



Captain, John Moore 

First Lieutenant, John Meriam 

Second Lieutenant, Eleazer 

Davis 
Sergeant, Joseph Convars 
Sergeant, James Wright 
Sergeant, Jeremiah Fitch, Jnr. 
Fifer, David Lane 
James Lane, 3rd 
Oliver Reed, Junr. 
Samuel Lane 
Israel Putnam, Jur. 
Samuel Bacon 
Samuel Davis 



Ebenezer Page 
Thaddeus Davis 
Edward Stearns 
Solomon Stearns 
William Page 
William Maxwell 
Samuel Meeds 
Josiah Upton 
Samuel Meriam 
Abel Bowman 
David Fitch 
Abijah Bacon 
Joseph Hartwell 
Thomas Bacon 



176 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775. 



John Fitch 
Samuel Lane 
John Lane, Junr. 
Solomon Lane 
Matthew Pollard 
Ziba Lane 
Stephen Lane 
Samson Hardy 
Job Lane, Junr. 
Lemuel Blanchard 
Oliver Pollard, Junr. 
Edward Stevens 



Jeremiah Blood 
Josiah Davis 
John Reed, Junr. 
Reuben Bacon 
Simon Parker 
Ebenezer Johnson 
Joseph Ross 
Malachi Allen 
Jabez Carter 
Abraham Merriam 
John Lane, 3rd 
Timothy Page 



Captain Jonathan Willson's Company. 
Entered the Contest at Concord North Bridge. 

Willson was killed and the command fell to his 
Lieutenant, Moses Abbott. 

the Account of the Time that Eatch man who belonged to the 
minit men of the Town of Bedford Spent at Cambridge in defence 
of the County to gether with Nineteenth of April last & also of 
their travil Receoned from the middle of the town according to 
the mind of the Company. — Lexington Alarms, XI, IQ2. 



{Captain, Jonathan Willson, 

killed) 
First Lieutenant, Moses Abbott 
Second Lieutenant, Timothy 

Jones 
Sergeant, Christopher Page 
Sergeant, Seth Saultmarsh 
Sergeant, Ebenezer Fitch 
Sergeant, Asa Fassett 
Drummer, Olover Bacon 
Fifer, Jonas Welch 
Jabez Russell 
Jonas Gleason 
Nathan Bacon 
Nathaniel Page, Jun. 



Joseph Meeds, June 

Ruben Duren 

Elijah Bacon 

Benjamin Bacon 

Timothy Johnson 

Moses Fitch 

David Bacon 

David Reed 

Nathan Bomar (or Boman) 

Ephram Smith 

Asa Duren 

Obediah Johnson 

Benjamin Winship 

Ruben Bacon 

William Merriam 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 



177 



Appendix No. 5 



Lincoln Men. 

Captain William Smith's Company. 
Entered the Contest at Concord North Bridge. 

A List of a Company of Minute Men, under the Command of 
Capt. William Smith in Colo. Abijah Pierces Regt. who entered 
the Service April ye 19th 1775. — Lexington Alarms, XIII, 97. 



Captain William Smith 
Lieutenant Samuel Farrar 
Second Lieutenant, Samuel 

Hoar 
Sergeant Saml Hartwell 
Sergeant David Fisk 
Sergeant John Hartwell 
Sergeant Jonas Mason 
Corporal Abjiah Mead 
Corporal Elijah Willington 
Corporal Ebenezer Brown 
Corporal Joseph Abbot 
Fifer Joseph Mason 
Fifer Elijah Mason 
Drummer Danl Brown 
Nehemiah Abbot 
Daniel Child 
Abel Adams 
Daniel Hosmer 
Abijah Munroe 
Joseph Peirce 



Abra Peirce 
Artemas Reed 
Jesse Smith 
Nathan r jTidd 
Willm Thorning 
Solomon Whitney 
Jonathan Gage 
Isaac Gage 
John Parks 
Ebenezer Parks 
Jonas Parks 
Aaron Parks 
Nathan Billings 
Timothy Billings 
Nathl. Baker 
James Baker 
Nathan Brown, Jr. 
Saml Dakin, Jr. 
Humphry Farrar 
James Parks 
Jona. Smith 



i 7 8 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL I9, I775. 



John Wesson, Junr. 
Enos Wheeler 
Jacob Baker, Jr. 
John Garfield 
Joel Adams 
Joshua Brooks, Jr. 
Benja. Brooks 
Thomas Blodget 
Joshua Child, Junr. 
Jacob Foster 
Nathl. Gove 



Daniel Harrington 
Isaac Hartwell 
Gregory Stone, Jr. 
John Thorning 
John Wesson 
Joseph Wheet 
Danl Billings 
William Parks 
Willard Parks 
Willm. Hosmer 



INDEX 



INDEX. 



[Not including names in the muster rolls.] 



Abbott, Lieut. Moses, 8 1 
Acton, alarm in, 41 

Men of, at North Bridge, 80 

Roster of Captain Davis's Company, 
Appendix No. 3, 173 

Killed and wounded, 156 

Muster rolls of, 173 
Adams children, 138 

Hannah, removed from her home, 
125, 137 

Home, 140 

Joel, child, 138 

Deacon Joseph, home looted, wife 
and child abused, by Percy's 
soldiers, 137 

Samuel, 18, 19, 22, 26, 30, 31, 35, 37 
Adan, John R., 23 (note) 
Alarms in other places, 33 
Allen the one-handed peddler, 28 
Americans killed and wounded, 156 

Number of, engaged, 159 
Andover, alarm in, 35 
Arlington, battle in, 130 

Killed and wounded of, 156 

Men of, 134 

Smith's advance through, 52 

Percy's retreat through, 130 
Aspinwall, Capt. Thomas, 134 
Authorities, list of, xxiii 

Bacheller, Capt. John, 96 
Bacon, Jacob, 157 

Lieut. John, 143, 157 
Baggage wagons of Percy captured, 

119 
Baker, Lieut. Thomas, of the 5th 
Regiment, 1 1 2, 128, 159 



Baldwin, Ensign Henry, of the 47th 

Regiment, 1 12, 128, 158 
Ballard, John, 18 
Bancroft, Capt. Nathaniel, 134 
Barber, Mrs. Anne Hay, 154 

William, home of, 154 

Edward, 125, 154, 156 
Barker, Francis, 43 
Barnard, Capt. Samuel, 134 
Barrett, Corp. Amos, 40 

Col. James, 43, 77, 80, 81, 83, So- 
SS, 160 

Mrs. James, 87, 88 

James, Jr., 87 

Capt. Nathan, 74, 80, 156 

Samuel, 79 

Stephen, 87 

Deacon Thomas, 78 
Barron, Capt. Oliver, 44, 96, 156 
Bates, Capt. Oliver, 97 
Bathericke, Mother, 119 
Battle, Capt. Eben, 134 
Beaton, John, 93 
Bedford, alarm in, 38 

Killed and wounded, 156 

Men of, 38 

Muster rolls of the companies of, 17s 
Belfry, Lexington, 62 
Belknap, Jason, 119 

Joe, 119 

Capt. Samuel, 97 
Bell, Joseph, 156 
Bentley, Joshua, 23 
Berkshire County Convention, 15 
Bernard, Lieut. Col. Bery, 158 
Beverly, killed and wounded, 156 

Men of, 134 



182 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775. 



Bigelow, Capt. Timothy, 47 
Billerica, alarm in, 39 

Men of, 96 

Wounded, 156 
Black Horse Tavern (see also Wether- 

by's Tavern), 19, 37, 52, 53 
Blanchard, Luther, 43, 83, 84, 99, 156 

Timothy, 156 
Blaney, Capt. Benjamin, 134 
Bliss, Mr., 9 

Mr. (Concord tory), 17 
Bloody Angle in Lincoln, battle at, 

100, 105. 
Bond, Joshua, house and shop burned, 

126 
Boston Massacre, 2 

Port Bill, 2 

Start of Percy from, 114 

Start of Smith from, 20 
Bowman, Lieut. Solomon, 54, 55, 145 

Capt. Thaddeus, 36 (note), 38, 59, 
62 
Boynton, Thomas, Journal of, 35 

(note) 
Breed, Joshua, 157 
British forces, 13 

Killed, wounded, prisoners and 
missing, 158 

Number of, engaged, 159 

Prisoners, first ones captured, 71 

Start for Lexington and Concord, 20 
Brookline killed, 156 

Men of, 133 
Brooks, Major John, 96 

Joshua, 84, 99, 157 

Tavern, 98, 102 
Brown, Deacon Benjamin, 71 

Capt. David, 40, 41, 74, 80, 83; 
muster roll of his company, 169 

Francis, 157 

John, 70, 157 

Jonas, 99, 156 

Jonathan, Capt., 40 

Reuben, 93 

Solomon, 19, 28, 29, 35, 36, 68, 69 

Widow, her Tavern, 43, 88 
Bryant, Albert W., Munroe Tavern, 
36 (note) 



Buckman, John, 68 

Tavern, 31, 32, 37, 38, 62, 68, 72, ill 
Budge, James, 119 
Bullard's Bridge, 48, 49 
Bullet and sword found in Lexington, 

106 
Bull's Tavern, 73, 106 
Burgoyne, Gen. John, 4 
Butterfield, Jonathan, 138 
Buttrick, Maj. John, 81, 82, 84, 91 

John, fifer, 83 

Cambridge, battle in, 145 

Burial of the patriot dead of, 149 

Killed and missing, 157 

Men of, 104 

Percy's retreat through, 14s 

Smith lands at, 20 

Advances through, 48, 51 
Camden, Lord, 5 

Cannon, carriages of, burned, trun- 
nions knocked off, 92, 94 

Percy's opening bombardment in 
Lexington, 122, 123 
Capen house, 50 
Chamberlain, Aaron, 157 

Nathaniel, 143, 157 
Charlestown, Percy's arrival in, 153 

Killed, 156 

Selectmen arrange an armistice with 
Percy, 154 
Chatham, Lord, 4 
Cheever, David, 52 
Chelmsford, alarm in, 44 

Men of, 96 

Wounded, 156 
"Chevy Chase," 115 
Child, Capt. Lemuel, 45, 134 
Choate house, Somerville, 50 
Christ Church, "Old North," 23 
Clark, Capt. Thomas, 41 
Clarke, Miss Elizabeth, letter of, 113 

(note) 
Clarke, Rev. Jonas, 26, 35, 37, 1 13 

Jonas, son of Rev. Jonas, 31 
Cleaves, Nathaniel, 144, 156 
Coburn, Capt. Peter, 45 
Comee, Joseph, 63, 67, 68, 71, 157 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 



I8 3 



Committee of Safety, 10, 12, 19, 52, 129 
Committee of Supplies, 10, 12, 19, 52 
Conant, Colonel, 22, 24 

Daniel, 157 
Concord, alarm in, 39 

Battle at North Bridge, 79 

Court House saved, 95 

Damages in, 95 

Men of, 80 

Muster rolls of, 169 

Smith's advance into, 73 

Smith's retreat from, 95 

Wounded, 156 
Congress, First Continental, 3 

First Provincial, 3, 6; its limited 
power, 6, 7. 

Second Provincial, 7, II 
Cook, Rev. Mr., 120, 137 

Samuel, 143, 156 
Coolidge, Jacob, 144 

Joseph, 157 
Cooper, Benjamin, 142, 143 

Rachel, 142, 143 

Tavern, 25, 142, 143 
Council of war in Concord, 80, 81 

In Somerville, 155 
Court House in Concord saved, 95 
Cox, Lieutenant, of the 5th Regiment, 

112, 128, 158 
Cox, William, one of the Boston Tea 

Party, 2 (note) 
Crosby, Lieutenant, 96 
Cudworth, Capt. Nathan, 96 
Cummings, Dr., 93 
Cutler, Mr., 136 

Rebecca, 136 
Cutter, Annie, 119, 121. 139 

Daland, Benjamin, 143, 156 

Damages in Arlington, 136, 138, 140 

Damages in Concord, 95 

Damages in Lexington, viz., Bond's, 
126; Loring's, 124; Mason's, 128; 
Mead's, 124; Meeting House, 
112, 123; Merriam's, 124; Mulli- 
ken's, 126; Munroe Tavern, 127; 
Sanderson's, 1 27; total loss in 
Lexington, 128 



Damages in Somerville, viz., Miller's, 
152; Abigal Shed, Ebenezer 
Shed, 152 
Danvers, alarm in, 34 

Killed, wounded and missing, 156 
Men of, 134 
Davis, Ezekiel, 84, 99, 156 
Capt. Isaac, 43, 80, 82-84, 9'. 98 
156; muster roll of his company, 
173 
Dawes, William, 18, 20, 21, 26-28, 45 
De Bernicre, Ensign, 17, 76 (note), 87 
(note), 89 (note), 94, 96 (note), 
109, 130 
Dedham, alarm in, 46 
Killed and wounded, 156 
Men of, 134 
Dedication, v 
Des Barres's map of Boston and 

vicinity, 49 (note) 
Devens, Richard, 13, 25, 26, 52, S3 
Diamond, William, 59, 62 (note) 
Distances marched by the British 

soldiers, 159 
Dodge, Capt. Caleb, 134 

William, 3d, 144, 156 
Douglass, Robert, 33, 62 
Downer, Dr., 136 
Dracut, alarm in, 44 

Men of, 44 
Draper, Capt. Daniel, 134 
Capt. William, 45, 134 

Ears, cutting off of, charged to Ameri- 
cans, 89 

Eaton, Capt. Thomas, 96 

Edget, Capt. Simon, 46, 96 

Ellis, Capt. William, 134 

Emerson, Rev. William, 40 (note), 
89 

Ernes, Capt. Jesse, 96 

English friends after the battle, 160 

English War Office, letter from the 
Military Secretary of, to the 
author, 158 (note) 

Epes, Capt. Samuel, 134 

Estabrook, Prince, 71, 157 

Everett, Israel, 144, 156 



1 84 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 



Fairbanks, Capt. David, 134 
Farmer, Capt. Edward, 96 

Nathaniel, 71, 157 
Farrington, Capt. William, 134 
Faulkner, Col. Francis, 42 

Francis, Jr., 42 
Felt, Joshua, 157 
Fiske, Benjamin, home of, 108 
Fiske Hill in Lexington, fighting near, 

107 
Fitch, Jeremiah, Jr., tavern of, 39 
Flight of Hancock and Adams, 30 
Flint, Capt. John, 96 

Capt. Samuel, 134 

William, 143, 157 
Flour in Concord destroyed, 92, 94 
Forces of the American and British 

compared, 159 
Foster, Rev. Edmund, 34 (note), 98 
Fox, Capt. Jonathan, 97 
Framingham, alarm in, 46 

Men of, 96 

Wounded, 156 
Franklin, Benjamin, 161 
Friends, English, after the battle, 

160 
Frost, Capt. Ephraim, 120 

House in Somerviile, so 

Samuel, 156 
Fuller, Capt. Aaron, 134 

Gage, Gen. Thomas, 6, 8, 13-18, 35, 55, 

76, 94, 114, lis, 146, 149. 154. 

155. 159 
Gardner, Henry, 7 (note) 

Maj. Isaac, 134, 147, 156 
Gerry, Elbridge, 19, 37, 52-54 
Gleason, Capt. Micajah, 96 
Goddard, Mrs. Mehitable May, 28 

(note) 
Goldthwait, Ebenezer, 143, 156 
Goodridge, Captain, 12 
Gordon, Rev. William, 16 (note) 
Gould, Lieut. Edward Thornton of 

the 4th, or King's Own, Regiment, 

84, 99, 121, 158 
Capt. George, 134 
Great Fields in Concord, 100 



Great Meadow in Concord, 96 
Greaton family, 45 (note) 
Guild, Capt. Joseph, 134 
Gun carriages in Concord burned, 87, 
92 , ' 

Hadley, Samuel, 69, 157 

Thomas, 143, 157 
Hall, Capt. Isaac, 25, 134 

Mrs. Thomas, 138 (note) 
Hancock, John, 6, 8, 10, 17, 19, 22, 26, 

30, 3«. 35. 37. 53 
Handley, Charles, 88 
Hapgood, Captain, 97 
Hardy's Hill, fight at, 98 
Harrington, Caleb, 63, 67, 70, 157 

David, Si 

Elizabeth W., 37 (note) 

Jonathan, Jr., 66, 71, 157 

Thaddeus, 37 (note) 
Hartwell houses in Lincoln, 102 

Sergt. John, 102 

Sergt. Samuel, 102 

Mrs. Samuel, 102 
Harvard College, Percy's contem- 
plated destruction of, 116, 149 
Hastings, Samuel, 104 
Hatchet, British soldier killed with a, 

89 
Haven, Elias, 143, 156 
Hawkshaw, Lieut. Thomas, of the 5th 

Regiment, 112, 128, 158 
Haynes, Capt. Aaron, 96 

Deacon Josiah, 112, 157 

Joshua, Jr., 157 
Hayward, James, 108, 112, 156 

Lieutenant, 93 
Heath, Gen. William, II, 14, 52, 128, 

13*. 135. 155 
Heminway, Daniel, 156 
Hicks, John, 147, 148, 156 

Mrs. John, 148 

Son of John, 148 
Hill, Mrs. James, 137 (note) 
Home, John, 161, 162 
Hosmer, Abner, 84, 91, 96, 156 

Adj. Joseph, 80, 91 
Hubbard, Ebenezer, 78 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 



185 



Hull, Lieutenant, of the 43d Regiment, 

84. 99. 158 
Hunnewell brothers, 50 
Hunt, Capt. Simon, 42, 81, 83 
Hutchinson, Capt. Israel, 134 
Gov. Thomas, 13 

Illustrations, list of, rvii 
Indians of Stockbridge, 12 
Ireland, Jonathan, 50 

Jacobs, Henry, 143, 156 
Jasper, Mr., gunsmith, 18 
Johnson, Mr., 157 
Jones, Elisha, house of, 85, 90 

Madame, 31 
Jones Tavern, 17 
Jones, Rev. Thomas, 31 

Kelly, Lieut. Waldo, of the 10th Regi- 
ment, 84, 99, IS8 

Kennison, Reuben, 143, 156 

Kent, Samuel, 50 

Killed, wounded and missing, Ameri- 
cans, 156 

Killed, wounded and missing, British, 
158 

Kingsbury, Capt. Caleb, 134 
Eleazer, 144, 157 

Knight, Lieutenant, of the 4th, or 
King's Own, Regiment, 158 

Lamson, David, 119 

Lane, Job, 102, 105, 156 

Lannon, John, who found the British 

sword and bullet, jo6 (note) 
Lanterns, signal, 23 
Larkin, Deacon, 25 

Horse of, 25, 30 (note) 
Lawrie, Capt. Walter Sloane, of the 

43d Regiment, 77, 85, 160 
Lechmere Point, Cambridge, 20, 48, 

49. 7S 
Lee, Col. Charles, 19, S2~54 
Lee's Hill, Concord, 78, 92 
Lester, Ensign Jeremiah, of the 10th 

Regiment, 98, 99, 158 



Lexington, alarm in, 25 

Battle of, 59 

Burial of the slain, 1 13 

Damages, 128 

Historical Society, Appreciation 
of, i 

Killed and wounded, 157 

Men of, 60 

Meeting house bombarded by Percy, 
in 

Muster roll of Captain Parker's 
company, 165 

Percy reaches the village, 121 

Percy retreats from, 129 

Seventy-seven, The, who responded 
to America's first battle call, 60 

Smith's advance into, 58 

Smith's retreat to Lexington village, 
105 
Liberty Pole in Concord, 75 
Lincoln, Col. Benjamin, 53 
Lincoln, alarm in, 39 

British soldiers buried in the village 
cemetery, 102 

Men of, 81 

Muster roll of Capt. Smith's com- 
pany, 177 

Smith's advance through, 73 

Smith's retreat through, 99 

Wounded, 157 
Littleton, alarm in, 45 
Locke, Capt. Benjamin, 57, 134 
Locker, Capt. Isaac, 96 
London, City of, 3 

Petition to Parliament, 162 
Long Room Club, 16 
Loring, Jonathan, 19, 28, 37 

Deacon Joseph, 123; his loss, 124 
Lowe, Capt. Caleb, 134 
Lowell, Mr., 31, 32 
Lynn, alarm in, 33 

Killed, wounded and missing, 157 

Men of, 134 

McCloud, Lieut. Donald, of the 47th 
Regiment, 112, 128, 158 

McDonald, Second Lieutenant, of the 
59th Regiment, i_o, 



1 86 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775. 



Maiden, men of, 134 
Mansfield, Capt. Rufus, 134 
Maps, list of, xxi 
Marcy, William, 125, 148, 156 
Mark, the negro slave, 25 
Marrett, Rev. Mr., 31 
Mason, John, 127 

Home looted, 128 
Mead, Israel, 119 
Mead, Matthew, 36 

Home looted, 1 24 

Mrs. Matthew, 36, 37 

Rhoda, 36 
Medford, killed, 156 

Men of, 134 
Meeting house in Lexington bom- 
barded by Percy, 122 
Menotomy, men of, 134 
Meriam's Corner, fight at, 96 
Merriam, Benjamin, home of, looted, 

124 
Messengers of alarm, 21 
Middle District Caucus, 16 
Middlesex County Convention, 15 
Miles, Capt. Charles, 80, 83, 156 

Muster roll of his company, 171 
Military act, 2 
Miller, James, killed, 151 

Home looted, 151 
Miller's River, 49 
Mills, Amos, 144, 157 

Sergt. Elisha, 144, 157 
Minot, Capt. George, 40, 41, 74, 80, 
156 

Doctor, 93 

Capt. Jonathan, 97 
Mitchell, Major, 29, 30 
Mohawks, Chief of the, 12 
Monroe, Timothy, 157 
Moore, Capt. John, 81; muster roll of 
his company, 175 

Mrs., 49 
Mothskin, Johoiakin, 12 
Moulton, Martha, 95 
Mt. Vernon, in Lexington, 122, 123, 

128 
Mt. Vernon Street, in Lexington, 
changed to. Percy Road," 125 



Mulliken, John, 126 

Lydia, house of, burned, 126; her 

loss, 126 
Miss, 26 
Munroe Avenue suggested as a sub- 
stitute name for "Percy Road," 
125 
Anna, 67 

Ebenezer, Jr., 66, 71, 72, 157 
Jedediah, 71, 130, 157 
John, 65 

Marrett, house of, 68 
Nathan, 38, 39 
Ensign Robert, 67, 71, 157 
Timothy, 157 

Sergt. William, 19, 26, 36 (note), 37, 
63, 127 
Munroe Tavern, 122, 125 (note), 126, 

127 
Musket ball found, 106 
Musket balls thrown into the river, 94 
Muzzy, Isaac, 71, 157 

Needham, killed and wounded, 157 

Men of, 134 
Nelson, Josiah, 39, 104 
Newhall, Capt. Ezra, 134 
Newman, Robert, 24 
Newton, alarm in, 46 

Men of, 130 

Wounded, 157 
Nichols, John, 156 
Nixon, Capt. John, 46, 96, 112 
North Bridge, Concord, 75 

Battle at, 79 

Occupied by the British, 77 
North Church, Old North, or Christ 

Church, in Boston, 23 
North End Caucus, 16 
North, Lord, 4 

Old Belfry in Lexington, 62 
Old Manse in Concord, 89 
Orne, Col. Azor, 19, 52-54 

Page, Capt. Jeremiah, 134 
Palmer, Col. Joseph, 52 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 



I8 7 



Parker, Capt. David, 134 
Elizabeth S., 60 

Capt. John, 19, 32, 38, 59, 60, 62- 
67, 71, 81, 100, 104, 105, no, 124, 
127; his company, 165 
Jonas, 66, 71, 157 
Jonathan, 144, 157 
Capt. Moses, 44, 96 
Rev. Theodore, 60 
Parliament, British, I, 162 
Parsons, Capt. Lawrence, of the 10th 

Regiment, 77, 87, 89, 158. 160 
Paterson, Colonel, 12 
Payson, Rev. Phillips, A.M., 119 
Peirce, Benjamin, 144 
Pelham's map of Boston and vicinity, 

49 (note) 
Pepperell, alarm in, 45 
Percy, Earl, Acting Brigadier General, 
94, in, 114-117, 119, 120-126, 
128-130, 132, 133, 13s, 137. 138, 
140, 143, 145-147, 149-155, 160 
"Percy Road," 125 (note), 126 
Changed to "Munroe Avenue" 
suggested, 125 (note) 
Phip's Farm, in Cambridge, 20 
Pickering, Col. Timothy, 153 
Pierce, Benjamin, 157 

Solomon, 71, 157 
Pigeon, John, 12, 46 
Piper's Tavern, 49 
Pistols of Maj. John Pitcairn, 107 

(note) 
Pitcairn, Maj. John, 14, 20, 55, 59, 64, 

65,68,69,76, 106, 107, 114, 115 
Plympton, Thomas, 46 
Pole, Capt. Mundy, of the 10th Regi- 
ment, 77, 91, 92, 94, 160 
Polly, William, 143, 157 
Pomeroy, Col. Seth, 1 1 
Porter, Asahel, 57, 58, 68, 70, 157 
Potter, Second Lieut. Isaac, 1 12, 128, 

159 
Powder, thrown into the river, 94 
Preble, Jedidiah, 10, II 
Preface to the First Edition, vii 
Preface to this Edition, xi 
Prentiss, George, 139 



Prescott, Abel, Jr., 99, 156 

Colonel, 45 

Dr. Samuel, 26-28, 40 
Price, Plain, 87 
Prince, Capt. Asa, 134 
Prisoners, first American, that were 
captured, 51 

First British, that were captured, 71 
Pulling, Capt. John, Jr., 23, 24 
Punkatasset Hill, 41, 75, 80 
Putnam, Capt. Edm., 134 

Henry, 143, 157 

Capt. John, 134 

Mrs. John P., presents Major Pit- 
cairn's pistols to Lexington, 107 
(note) 

Nathan, 144, 156 

Perley, 143, 156 

Quincy, Dorothy, 31 

Ramsdell, Abednego, 143, 157 

Rand, the widow, 50 

Raymond, John, 125, 127, 130, 132, 

157 
Reading, alarm in, 34 

Men of, 96 
Reed, Asahel, 157 

George, 157 

James, 72, 73 

Joshua, 72 

Mr., 31 

Thaddeus, no 
Revere, Paul, 16, 18, 19, 21-32, 38, 

40, 53, 60 
Richardson, Josiah, 57, 58, 69 

Moses, 148, 156 

Thomas, 23 
Robbins home, 136 

John, 71, 157 
Robins, Capt. Joseph, 80; partia 
muster roll of his company, 174 

Thomas, 51 
Robinson, Lieut. Col. John, 82 
Roxbury, alarm in, 45 

Men of, 134 

Missing, 157 
Russell, Anna, 144 



I! 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, I775. 



Russell House, Lexington, 37, 124 
James, 154 

Jason, 138, 140, 143, 156 
Seth, 156 
Capt. Stephen, 45 

Salem, killed, 157 

Men of, 153 
Sanderson, Elijah, 19, 28, 37 

Samuel, 127; killing of his cow, 127 
Sandwich, Earl of, 5 
Scalping charged to the Americans, 89 
Seaver, Elijah, 157 
Sentinels, first posting of American, 

ISS 
Shattuck, Col. Daniel, 34 
Shaw, Capt. Peter, 134 
Shed, Abigal, widow of Ebenezer, loss, 
152 

Samuel, home looted, bureau or 
highboy riddled with bullets, 

Sibley, Rev. J. L., 49 
Silver tankard of the communion 
service belonging to the church 
in Menotomy (Arlington) stolen, 
138 
Simonds, Joshua, 63, 67, 71 
Smith, Capt. Aaron, 134 

Lieut. Col. Francis, 20, 48, 49, 51, 
58, 70, 73-76, 85, 91-95. 99. 10s; 
wounded, 106, 109, 112, 114, 115. 
117, 121, 123, 127, 128, 130, 146, 
158, 160 
Isaac, 117 
Capt. Joseph, 96 
Capt. Robert, 134 
Solomon, 83 

Capt. William, 81, 83; loses his 
horse, 93; muster roll of his com- 
pany, 177 
Somerset man of war, 18, 23 
Somerville, battle in, 150 
Council of war in, 155 
Killed, 157 

Percy's advance through, 49 
Percy's retreat through, ISO 
Sons of Liberty, 16, 21 



Souter, Captain, of the Marines, 112, 

128, 159 
South Bridge, Concord, 77, 91, 92 
South End Caucus, 16 
Southwick, George, 143, 156 
Spring Valley, 119, 120 
Spy Pond, 119, 120 
Stamp Act, 2 

repealed, 2 
Stedman, Captain, 12, 34 
Stickney, Capt. Jonathan, 96 
Stone, Capt. Moses, 96 
Stow, men of, 97 

Wounded, 157 
Sudbury, alarm in, 46 

Killed and wounded, 157 

Men of, 96 
Sutherland, Lieutenant, of the 38th 

Regiment, 84, 99, 158 
Sword of slain British officer found, 
106 (note) 

Tanner's Brook, 99 
Tea, tax on, 2 
Tewksbury, alarm in, 41 
Thatcher, Capt. Samuel, 104, 146 
Thompson, Daniel, 100, 105, 157 
Thorndike, Capt. Larkin, 134 
Thorning, William, 103 
Tidd, Benjamin, 38, 39 

John, 157 

Lieut. William, 67, 68 
Tolman, son of Dr. Tolman, 144, 

157 
Tooke, John Home, 161, 162 
Townsend, Daniel, 143, 157 
Treaty of Peace, Feb. 10, 1763, I 
Trenchers, destroyed, 92 
Trull, Capt. John, 41, 44 
Tufts, Dr., 142 

John, 136 

Mr., 56 

Mrs. Rebecca, 136 

Mrs. Timothy, 51 

Samuel, 50 

Tavern, 56, 136; looted and set on 
fire, 136 

Timothy, 51, 150 



THE BATTLE OF APRIL 19, 1775- 



189 



Underwood, Capt. Timothy, 97 

Varnum, General, 41, 44 
Viles Tavern, 73, 106 

Walker, Capt. Joshua, 97 

Wallace, Dennison, 144, 156 

Walton, Capt. John, 96 

Ward, Artemas, 11 

Warren, Dr. Joseph, 18, 21, 23, 118, 

128, 135, 136 
Washington, George, 3 
Waters, Colonel, 18 
Watertown, killed, 157 

Men of, 134 
Watson, Abraham, 52 

Jacob, home of, 147 
Webb, Jotham, 143, 156 
Wellington, Benjamin, first armed 

American taken prisoner, 59 
Welsh, E., 73 

Mr., 72 

Dr. Thomas, 118 
Westford, men of, 97 
Wetherby's Tavern, in Menotomy 
(Arlington) (see Black Horse 
Tavern), 19, 52 
Wheeler, Timothy, 78 
Whitcom, Capt. William, 97 
White, Capt. Benjamin, 52 

Capt. Thomas, 133 
"White Cockade," 43, 83 



Whiting, Capt. Moses, 45, 134 
Whittemore, Samuel, 52, 141, 142, 
144. 147. «56 

Mrs. Samuel, 141, 142 
Wilkes, Lord Mayor of London, 4 
Willard, Thomas R., 73 
Willis Creek, 48, 49 
Willson, Capt. Jonathan, 39, 81, 100, 
105, 156 

Muster roll of his company, 1 76 
Winship, Jason, 142-144, 147, 156 

Son of Jason, 144 

Simon, 58 

Thomas, 71, 157 
Wiswell, Capt. Jeremiah, 130 
Woburn, alarm in, 33 

Killed and wounded, 157 

Men of, 97 
Wood, Amos, 78, 91 

Ephraim, 78, 91 

Sylvanus, 34, 62, 72 
Woodbury, Samuel, 144, 156 
Wooden Spoons destroyed in Concord, 

92 
Worcester, alarm in, 46 
Worcester County Convention, 15 
Wright Tavern, in Concord, 76, 93 
Wyman, Amos, 31 

Jabez, 142, 143, 147, 156 

Nathaniel, 100, 105, 157 

"Yankee Doodle," 115 



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